Retired ambassadors, military officials, businessmen and academics have begun “Track 2” diplomacy with Beijing, with their Chinese counterparts honoring the president Rody Duterte administration’s decision to set aside in the meantime an international arbitration ruling favoring the Philippines in the dispute over the West Philippine (South China) Sea, wrote Michael Delizo, a journalist of Manila Times.
The Philippine Council for Foreign Relations said it sent a mission to China for a series of dialogues with their contacts and counterparts on September 13 to 15.
“Track 2 diplomacy involves nongovernment, informal and unofficial talks, which the council said was separate from the “Track 1” initiative by the government such as the appointment of former President Fidel Ramos as special envoy to China,” explains Delizo.
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