Philippines and China Pledge to Reduce Tensions in the South China Sea

MANILA – The Philippines and China have engaged in the 9th Meeting of their Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM), marking their first formal dialogue since a recent skirmish. The meeting, which took place in Manila, was aimed at addressing and de-escalating ongoing tensions stemming from an incident on June 17 near Ayungin Shoal involving the Chinese Coast Guard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

According to Philippines news Agency, the dialogue was led by DFA Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong of China. The discussions were described as frank and constructive, focusing on the need to restore trust and rebuild confidence to foster conditions for productive dialogue. Both parties acknowledged the recent incidents in the South China Sea and expressed a commitment to de-escalate tensions while maintaining their respective positions.

The DFA statement highlighted that the two sides discussed substantial progress in developing measures to manage maritime situations, though significant differences remain. Details of the proposed measures and progress were not disclosed. Moreover, the dialogue also included agreements on enhancing communication mechanisms and continuing discussions on maritime cooperation between coast guard authorities. Additionally, the possibility of resuming the Joint Coast Guard Committee and organizing an academic forum on marine scientific and technological cooperation was discussed.

Both nations have agreed to continue their dialogue with mutual respect as sovereign states, aiming to sustain peace and stability at sea. They committed to holding the 10th BCM in China to maintain the positive momentum in their discussions.