Can China and Philippines replace ‘disputes with cooperation’ after years of tension?

China and the Philippines may soon start joint coastguard patrols in the South China Sea after years of tensions over the disputed waters, according to a Philippine senator. Erwin Tulfo, chairman of the Senate’s foreign relations committee, met Chinese ambassador Jing Quan on Monday, and said afterwards that the two countries’ coastguards were expected to sign a memorandum of agreement by the end of March. He added that rather than “having disputes there … there will be cooperation”, such as...

By Alyssa Chen