World · East Asia & Pacific · 4 hrs ago
China and the Philippines agree to keep talking amid rising tensions
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticised Philippine politicians during a phone call with Philippine Foreign Minister Theresa Lazaro on Tuesday.
Wang said some politicians had attacked China and urged Manila to rein in anti-China rhetoric.
The call came as tensions between China and the Philippines are rising.
The two countries dispute claims in the South China Sea, a source of strain in their relations.
Despite the disagreement, the ministers agreed to maintain diplomatic dialogue and manage differences while seeking to improve ties.
Their discussion comes ahead of November meetings in Manila and Shenzhen, including ASEAN- and APEC-related events.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Philippine Foreign Minister Theresa Lazaro held a phone call on November 3.
They agreed to maintain diplomatic dialogue, manage differences and seek to improve relations, according to China’s foreign ministry.
The call came amid rising tensions between the two countries over competing claims in the South China Sea.
Wang accused some Philippine politicians of making “egregious, irrational and intolerable” remarks about China.
He urged Manila to rein in what he called anti-China rhetoric.
- Who
- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Philippine Foreign Minister Theresa Lazaro.
- What
- They agreed to maintain diplomatic dialogue, manage differences and seek to improve relations. Wang also criticized some Philippine politicians’ remarks about China.
- When
- November 3, 2026.
- Where
- In a phone call; the locations were not stated.
- Why
- The countries sought to manage differences and improve relations amid rising tensions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Wang Yi and Theresa Lazaro held a phone call and agreed to maintain diplomatic dialogue, manage differences and seek to improve relations.
ASEAN-related summit meetings were due to be held in Manila, and an APEC meeting was due to take place in Shenzhen, according to Nikkei.
- Chinese foreign minister
- Wang Yi
- Philippine foreign minister
- Theresa Lazaro
- Call date
- November 3, 2026
- Main agreement
- Maintain diplomatic dialogue, manage differences and seek to improve relations
- Disputed area
- South China Sea
3 sources
What people are saying
egregious, irrational and intolerable
Some Philippine politicians have repeatedly attacked and smeared China out of their political bias and self-interest, crossing China’s red lines.