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The Philippines’ ambassador to China, Jose Santiago “Chito” Sta
BEIJING — The Philippines’ ambassador to China, Jose Santiago “Chito” Sta. Romana, has died whereas in quarantine for COVID-19. He was 74.
Sta. Romana was a longtime resident of China and had been a correspondent for ABC Information previous to being appointed ambassador in 2016.
He was amongst a small group of Filipinos who visited China in the course of the rule of Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos and have been subsequently barred from returning dwelling. He remained in China from 1971 till Marcos’ toppling in 1986 and joined ABC in 1989, the yr Beijing was rocked by pro-democracy protests centered on Tiananmen Sq. that have been crushed by the army.
The Philippine Division of Overseas Affairs introduced Sta. Romana’s passing on Tuesday. No phrase was given on the reason for dying.
Philippine media stories mentioned he died the day earlier than within the metropolis of Huangshan, the place he had been finishing his 21-day quarantine after getting back from the Philippines with Overseas Minister Teodoro Locsin Jr., who visited China for talks with Chinese language Overseas Minister Wang Yi.
Sta. Romana was appointed ambassador to China in 2016 “in recognition of his deep data of China’s historical past and other people,” the division mentioned in a press release.
“Below his distinguished tenure, Philippine-China relations flourished regardless of variations; certainly they flowered all of the extra in maturity and have been deeply strengthened. We honor his necessary legacy of selfless service to the Filipino in probably the most difficult international publish,” the division mentioned.
Philippine relations with China have been roiled by disputes over rival claims to components of the South China Sea, with China’s a lot bigger navy, coast guard and maritime militia accused of harassing Filipino fishermen and protection forces.
China has refused to acknowledge a 2016 Hague arbitration ruling that principally invalidated China’s South China Sea claims and continues to assert the strategic waterway and its sources nearly in its entirety.
Chinese language Overseas Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin mentioned Sta. Romana was “well-known for his profound data of China.”
“He labored and lived in China for a few years and was our outdated buddy and good buddy. After assuming the publish of the Philippine ambassador to China in 2017, he labored actively and industriously, making necessary contributions to selling bilateral relations and friendship between our two peoples,” Wang mentioned.
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