BEIJING, MANILA AGREE TO KEEP TALKING TO EASE SOUTH CHINA SEA TENSIONS

China and the Philippines have agreed to de-escalate tensions in the disputed South China Sea, following some of the worst clashes in recent history that raised the risks of a wider conflict.

At Tuesday’s bilateral consultative mechanism meeting in Manila, the two sides exchanged views “on the situation in the South China Sea”, particularly tensions at Second Thomas Shoal, and agreed to continue to manage differences through negotiations.

According to a Chinese foreign ministry statement released late on Tuesday night, “the two sides believe that maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea is in the interests of both China and the Philippines, and is also the common goal of regional countries”.

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The two sides also “agreed to continue to maintain dialogue and consultation … to control disputes and differences”, according to the foreign ministry statement, which described the meeting as “frank and constructive”.

Issues covered in the talks included ways to improve the sea-related communication mechanism between the two countries and how to promote dialogue between their coastguards.

The Chinese side urged the Philippines to “immediately stop its infringing and provocative acts in the sea …, to get back on the right track of settling disputes through dialogue” so as to stabilise bilateral ties, the readout said.

In a separate statement released on Tuesday night, the Philippine foreign affairs department said the two sides made “substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation at sea, but significant differences remain”.

Tuesday’s meeting was co-chaired by China’s deputy foreign minister Chen Xiaodong and the Philippine foreign ministry undersecretary Theresa Lazaro.

It took place after several rounds of maritime confrontations between the two countries, which raised concerns of a potential wider conflict in the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes. The encounters also drew criticism from the US and its allies.

These included an incident at Second Thomas Shoal on June 17 in which Chinese coastguards intercepted a Philippine naval mission to resupply troops stationed on the disputed reef. Eight Philippine sailors were injured in the subsequent clashes, including one who lost a thumb.

A day later, the US state department condemned China’s “escalatory and irresponsible actions” and reaffirmed Washington’s obligation to defend the Philippines under a 1951 treaty.

Officials from the departments of foreign affairs, defence, natural resources, environment, transport, agriculture and coastguards also attended Tuesday’s talks, according to the Chinese readout.

More from South China Morning Post:

• Chinese and Philippine officials meet for South China Sea talks after series of recent clashes
• South China Sea disputes: can Beijing keep it bilateral despite high-seas clashes?
• South China Sea: Manila rejects Chinese account, says coastguard blocked fishing boat rescue
• China Coast Guard: what does it do and how did it become so powerful?
• US urged to take firm steps in support of Philippines amid rising South China Sea tensions

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2024-07-03T03:00:24Z dg43tfdfdgfd