A bilateral meeting with President Xi was sought in the sidelines of APEC last year in Vladivostok, but it never took place. Since Xi became China’s president in March, he has met with all Asian leaders except Aquino.
Once robust relations between the Philippines and China took a dip with the arrest by a Philippine Navy warship of Chinese fishermen in eight fishing boats in Bajo de Masinloc known internationally as Scarborough Shoal which is also being claimed by China.
The arrest triggered a 57-day standoff which was broken after back-channeling by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and behind-the-scene efforts of the United States.
At the height of the standoff, there were some 80 ships in the shoal 130 nautical miles from Zambales. Three Chinese ships control the area which has become inaccessible to Filipino fisherman.
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