Former Philippine president Ramos "optimistic" of smoothing troubled waters during Hong Kong visit

Former Philippines President Fidel Ramos said a decision on whether he would visit Beijing depends on the two nations' foreign ministries, and the outcome of his current fence-mending mission in Hong Kong.

Ramos, who arrived in Hong Kong on Monday as a special envoy for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, was answering questions about his plans after leaving the city. He set an optimistic tone for his visit, during which he said he would meet “old friends with links to [Chinese President] Xi Jinping and very successful businessman who have interests in the Philippines”.

Ramos gave no details of his itinerary or of those he planned to meet, except for Wu Shicun, who heads the National Institute for South China Sea Studies think-tank, based on China’s southern island of Hainan. It is unknown whether he would meet Wu in Hong Kong or in Shenzhen.

Ramos said he sought to improve economic and tourism links, such as by allowing “more fishing in the common fishing ground” of the Scarborough Shoal.

The choice of Hong Kong for the mission is being interpreted by observers as a delicate one, as Hong Kong is a neutral ground for both sides to test the waters. If the trip failed to bring positive results, Ramos could return to Manila without causing much embarrassment.

“Whether I am going to Beijing depends on my president in the Philippines ... because it depends on the developments (of my HK visit),” he said.

“It has to do with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and some coordination has been done between our embassy in Beijing and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. And of course, if there is any development, they will inform the consulate here in Hong Kong.

“I am an optimistic person,” Ramos said, adding that he believed the Hong Kong trip would achieve “win-win results”.

Ramos, speaking before he departed Manila on Monday, said he would try to rebuild Manila’s ties with Beijing, but he would not negotiate maritime disputes with Chinese officials.

Relations between China and the Philippines were severely undermined when Manila took the South China Sea dispute to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, triggering furious reactions from Beijing.

The international tribunal ruled last month that Beijing’s claims to most of the disputed waters had no legal basis. Beijing had refused to take any part in the proceedings and said it would ignore the ruling.

(SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST)