By Robina Asido

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants a ''reset'' to the diplomatic relationship between China and Philippines, a Palace spokesperson said following the chief executive's meeting with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan last Monday night.

"Yes, and they talked, and what the President wants is for these incidents not to happen again and for the relationship between China and the Philippines to be reset toward better cooperation," Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told reporters in a briefing on Thursday.

She refused to give details of the more than one hour conversation between Marcos and Jing but Castro noted that both had "exchanges of views and suggestions" during their meeting.

"I can't provide the details, but that's what the President wants to convey. So, whatever issues China and the Philippines may have, he wants to reset those discussions," Castro said.

"The President was heard by the Chinese Ambassador and the Chinese Ambassador heard him as well, with that, hopefully it will lead to a better outcome," she added.

''I can't provide the details, but that's what the President wants to convey. So, whatever issues China and the Philippines may have, he wants to reset those discussions,'' added Castro.

Castro said the President was heard by the Chinese Ambassador and the Chinese Ambassador heard him as well. ''With that, hopefully it will lead to a better outcome," she said.

In an ambush interview with reporters following his meeting with Marcos, Jing accused the soldiers onboard the grounded BRP Sierra Madre of violating the alleged provisional arrangement between the two countries due to supposed construction activities in Ayungin Shoal.

The Chinese Ambassador claimed that the deployment of China Coast Guard (CCG) who took photos and video near BRP Sierra Madre last Monday was done due to the alleged violation of a provisional arrangement.

The provisional arrangement was allegedly made in 2024 to prevent tension during rotation and resupply mission of the Philippine military for soldiers stationed in the grounded World War II Navy vessel.

In a separate interview on Thursday, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said he doesn't have knowledge on the provisional arrangement claimed by the Chinese Ambassador, noting that China should not interfere in any activities of the Philippines within its territory.

"I don't know anything about that provisional understanding. They don't care what we do in our own territory. They're putting words into our mouths. So I am not confirming that but what I am saying is that they do not have any business here," he said.

"Of course they want to control the area. They invent violations. Like their big lie.... they really make up stories so that they can have a way to enter. That is what our fellow countrymen should know. They have an intention. They will not stop. It is up to us to suppress that, to stop that," he added. PHS