MALACAÑANG said Thursday that it was still open to the idea of conducted joint military exercises with China.
Communications Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag said it could not be denied that President Rodrigo Duterte had been vocal on his interests to pursue enhanced diplomatic ties with China in the field of security and defense.
"The relationship of China and the Philippines, it has improved during the President’s time. And of course, for the Philippines, the President had been very vocal about this: That the Philippines wanted to engage with China not only on economics and trade but also in security and defense, if and when," Banaag told Palace reporters.
"We welcome whatever assistance that the Chinese government can provide," she added.
Banaag's statement came after China expressed openness on the possibility of conducting joint military training with the Philippines to counter terrorism that threatens the security of the southern part of the country.
On Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua said that China sought to explore military drills with the Philippine government troops, amid the continuing clashes between security forces and Islamic State-inspire extremist groups in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.
Zhao said joint military training, exercises, and intelligence sharing would help suppress the uprising of Islamist fighters who continue to pose threats in both countries.
"Terrorism is the enemy both China and the Philippines are facing that requires our two militaries to further enhance cooperation in this area. The Chinese side would like to explore the possibility of joint training, intelligence sharing and joint military exercises in the area of fighting terrorism," he said.
Duterte has since aimed to mend ties with China as he repeatedly refrained from raising the territorial dispute in the resource-rich South China Sea with his counterpart, Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Philippines has won the Hague-based arbitral case against China in July last year. In its July 6, 2016 ruling, the Permanent Court of Arbitration said that China has invalid claims over the contested waters.
Duterte, however, has avoided confrontations with China, which he considers as the Philippines' "good friend."
In May, the President has said he is open to holding joint military exercises in Mindanao, particularly in the Sulu Sea, despite the unresolved maritime row. (VoxPop Philippines)
