The presidents of China and the Philippines are to sit down for their first official talks this week on the sidelines of a regional economic summit amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea.

Few concessions would be made by either side on territorial claims, but they might agree to look into a risk management mechanism and strengthen economic ties, analysts said.

… They would have “at least a short meeting” on the sidelines of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this time, said Li Mingjiang from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

“Aquino certainly has the interest to engage with Xi in a formal meeting,” Li said. “It’d be inappropriate for Xi to decline such an arrangement while he is the guest in Manila.”