SUMMARY
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is “hoping for the best” as diplomats from China arrived in Manila for the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea meeting on Tuesday, July 2.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo confirmed that the meeting is taking place today, Tuesday.
The meeting comes just weeks after China Coast Guard (CCG) personnel harassed a Philippine resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
Manalo, in a chance interview with reporters on Tuesday, said he was “hoping for the best” in the meeting.
The Philippines’ Foreign Affairs chief earlier described ties as “choppy,” while his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi said ties were at a “crossroads.”
The Chinese embassy in Manila has not responded to media quer…