China and Philippines discuss ties as Manila opens bases to U.S.

Foreign ministers meet as U.S. base access deal stokes Taiwan tensions

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang held bilateral talks in Manila on April 22. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)

CLIFF VENZON, Nikkei staff writer

April 22, 2023 15:32 JST

MANILA -- The foreign ministers of China and the Philippines met on Saturday after bilateral relations were jolted by Manila's move to allow the U.S. access to its military bases near Taiwan, sparking opposition from Beijing.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo opened a meeting with Chinese counterpart Qin Gang, whose three-day visit to Manila coincides with the largest-ever Philippine-U.S. military drills.