Beijing, Manila agree to keep talking to ease South China Sea tensions

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.