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Cyril Ip

China and the Philippines described their latest round of high-level maritime talks as “candid”, with both sides agreeing to continue conversations.
China’s foreign affairs vice-minister Chen Xiaodong and Maria Theresa Lazaro, the Philippine undersecretary for foreign affairs, met in Beijing on Tuesday for the 10th cycle of the China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism.
The mechanism was established in May 2017 as a platform to discuss issues of mutual concern in the South China Sea and explore possible areas of cooperation. The most recent previous meeting was held in Manila in July.
According to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry, both sides agreed to maintain communication through diplomatic channels.
Discussions covered the disputed Sabina Shoal, where the Philippine coastguard deployed the BRP Teresa Magbanua four months ago, claiming that China was carrying out reclamation around the shoal, the statement said.
The disagreement at Sabina Shoal has shifted focus from another South China Sea flashpoint between Manila and Beijing – the World War II-era BRP Sierra Madre that serves as a Philippine outpost at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.
“The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the maritime issues between China and the Philippines, in particular the issue of Xianbin Jiao,” – the Chinese name for Sabina Shoal, which is known in the Philippines as the Escoda Shoal.
“The Chinese side reiterated its principled position on the issue of Xianbin Jiao and urged the Philippine side to immediately withdraw relevant vessels,” it continued, adding that China will “firmly safeguard its sovereignty” and observe the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.


Two days before the talks, the Communist Party’s official mouthpiece People’s Daily published a commentary calling on Manila to “seriously consider the future” of a relationship “at a crossroads”.
Two Chinese navy tug boats – Nantuo 175 and 185 – spotted near the Teresa Magbanua by the Philippine coastguard led to speculation that Beijing was considering towing away vessels it regards as illegally deployed in its waters.
After the talks, Lazaro wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the two sides had held “frank and candid discussions on managing the situation in the West Philippine Sea” – a reference to the portion of the South China Sea claimed by Manila as part of its exclusive economic zone.
“We agreed to continue discussions on areas of cooperation, especially on hotline mechanisms, coastguard cooperation, and marine scientific and technological cooperation.”
Lazaro added that she had reaffirmed the Philippines’ “consistent position” and explored ways to calm tensions.
The meeting’s conciliatory tone echoed the July talks, which included an agreement to extend the communication line between Beijing and Manila to include presidential representatives and top diplomats.
But the intervening weeks have seen growing tensions between the two countries, including three vessel collisions in August.
Manila’s Washington envoy Jose Manuel Romualdez hinted on Tuesday that a summit of at least 20 nations is planned on the sidelines of this month’s UN General Assembly in New York to seek ways “to talk some sense” into China over the confrontations.


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South China Sea

China and Philippines agree to keep talking after ‘candid’ Sabina Shoal discussions

Beijing and Manila agreed to maintain communication through diplomatic channels in the latest talks on the South China Sea. Photo: Xinhua

China could tow Philippine ship from disputed Sabina Shoal, but is it worth the backlash?

A Chinese coastguard ship (left) collides with the BRP Teresa Magbanua in the South China Sea on August 31. Photo: EPA-EFE/ Philippine Coast Guard/ Handout

The BRP Teresa Magbanua is seen surrounded by Chinese vessels near Sabina Shoal on August 31 in a photo released by the Philippine Coast Guard. Photo. Philippine Coast Guard

South China Sea: Philippines logs record 203 Chinese vessels near its shores in 1 week

Chinese maritime militia vessels seen near Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea earlier this year. Photo: Reuters

Philippine coastguard personnel inspect damage on the BRP Teresa Magbanua after a collision with a Chinese coastguard ship near Sabina Shoal on August 31. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard/AFP

Philippine coastguard divers and marine scientists survey part of Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea in June. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard/AFP

Summit planned to seek ways to ‘talk sense’ into China, Philippines envoy says

Chinese coastguard ships fire water cannons towards a Philippine vessel on its way to a resupply mission in the South China Sea in March. Photo: Reuters

South China Sea: China warns Philippines again after third collision at Sabina Shoal

Frame grab from handout video footage taken and released on Saturday by the Philippine Coast Guard shows the collision between a China Coast Guard vessel and the BRP Teresa Magbanua near Sabina Shoal. Photo: AFP / Philippine Coast Guard 

South China Sea: Philippines, China trade blame after second collision at Sabina Shoal

Frame grab from video footage of the collision on Sunday near the Sabina Shoal in disputed South China Sea waters, taken and released by the Philippine Coast Guard. Photo: AFP/ Philippine Coast Guard 

Manila has accused Chinese vessels of ramming and using water cannons on a fisheries bureau ship. Photo: AFP / Philippine Coast Guard

News

China

Diplomacy

Conciliatory tone contrasts with rising tensions between the two countries’ coastguards and naval vessels in disputed waters


Conciliatory tone contrasts with rising tensions between the two countries’ coastguards and naval vessels in disputed waters.


China-Philippines relations