Bongbong Marcos appoints ex-DFA chief Teddy Locsin special envoy to China

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. (FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Teodoro Locsin Jr. as Special Envoy of the President to the People’s Republic of China for Special Concerns, according to the Palace on Wednesday.

This comes amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea after the Chinese Coast Guard attacked Filipino vessels with a water cannon in Ayungin Shoal.

“Itinalaga si G. Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. bilang Special Envoy of the President to the People’s Republic of China for Special Concerns,” said the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) in a Facebook post.

(Mr. Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. has been appointed the Special Envoy of the President to the People’s Republic of China for Special Concerns.)

Asked by reporters why Marcos chose Locsin, PCO Chief Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil said that this aims to improve ties between China and the Philippines.

“It’s to boost bilateral relations between the two countries,” said Garafil.

China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea had drawn criticism from Filipino leaders and the international community alike.

The United States (US) Department of State issued a stern reminder that any armed attack on Filipino vessels in Philippine territory would invoke mutual defense treaties.

“The United States reaffirms an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces—including those of its Coast Guard in the South China Sea—would invoke US mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty,” it said.

Locsin is currently the Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom. He was the secretary of Foreign Affairs during the time of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

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JPV/abc