World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
China urges Philippines to act cautiously in South China Sea dispute
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the Philippines to act cautiously in a phone call with Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro.
The call came amid overlapping claims in the South China Sea, where the two countries have had physical clashes and vessel collisions in recent years.
Wang said some Filipino politicians were interfering in the relationship, while Lazaro described their discussion as frank and constructive.
The call followed a sharp exchange after the Philippines' defense secretary called China a troublemaker and China's ambassador made remarks that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said sounded like a threat.
Both governments said they would keep talking and manage their differences through dialogue.
They also discussed possibly restarting long-stalled talks on joint oil and gas exploration at Reed Bank, an offshore area claimed by both countries within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
A return to exploration talks remains possible, but no resumption was announced.
China urged the Philippines to act cautiously in their dispute over the South China Sea during a phone call between their foreign ministers.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the relationship faced “malicious interference” by certain Filipino politicians and called for restraint and a unified policy toward China.
Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Theresa Lazaro said the two had a frank and constructive discussion and stressed continued diplomatic dialogue.
The call followed weeks of tense exchanges, including remarks by China’s ambassador that Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said sounded like a threat.
The ministers also raised the possible resumption of stalled talks on joint oil and gas exploration in the Reed Bank.
- Who
- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Theresa Lazaro.
- What
- They discussed bilateral relations and the South China Sea dispute. Wang urged the Philippines to act cautiously.
- When
- Tuesday night. The date was not stated.
- Where
- In a phone call. The participants’ locations were not stated.
- Why
- To discuss tensions in their bilateral relationship and the South China Sea dispute.
China
Philippines
Conduct in the relationship
China
Wang said the relationship faced “malicious interference” by certain Filipino politicians and urged the Philippines to restrain them and speak with a unified, reasonable voice on China policy.
Philippines
Lazaro said both sides emphasized continued diplomatic dialogue and managing differences with mutual respect.
South China Sea dispute
China
Wang urged the Philippines to be cautious in its words and actions.
Philippines
The Philippines’ specific position in the call was not detailed; Lazaro called for diplomatic dialogue and mutual respect.
Tensions rose in exchanges between the two sides, including a dispute over remarks by the Philippines defense secretary and China’s ambassador.
Wang and Lazaro spoke by phone about bilateral relations and the South China Sea dispute.
The two diplomats also raised the possible resumption of talks on joint oil and gas exploration in the Reed Bank.
- Participants
- Wang Yi and Theresa Lazaro
- Call
- Tuesday night
- Disputed area
- South China Sea
- Proposed exploration site
- Reed Bank, within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone
- Exclusive economic zone
- 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from a country’s coastline
2 sources
What people are saying
Both sides emphasized the need for continued diplomatic dialogue and the proper management of differences anchored on mutual respect
cautious in their words and deeds
sounded like a threat
if we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not choose force and we love peace.