China foreign minister Wang Yi met ASEAN secretary-general Kao Kim Hourn in
Manila. Wang said the South China Sea should not be an obstacle to China‑ASEAN
relations, accused elements within the Philippine military and police of
deliberate provocations serving external powers’ interests that undermine
China‑Philippines rapprochement and regional stability, and urged heightened
vigilance. He said China will work with ASEAN to remove interference, accelerate
negotiations on a South China Sea Code of Conduct, promote a peace-and-stability
narrative and retain the initiative on South China Sea issues.
