MANILA. China and the Philippines engaged in pivotal discussions on Tuesday to alleviate rising tensions after a significant clash in the disputed South China Sea. The incident, which occurred on June 17 at Second Thomas Shoal, marked the worst confrontation between the two nations, raising fears of a broader conflict that could involve the United States, Manila’s ally.
Despite the high-stakes nature of the talks, no major agreements were reached to prevent a recurrence of the chaotic encounter that resulted in injuries to Filipino navy personnel and damage to two military vessels. The Second Thomas Shoal, located off the northwestern Philippines, has become a critical flashpoint in the region, with Chinese naval and civilian ships surrounding Philippine marines aboard a grounded ship, blocking their resupply, and demanding their withdrawal.
In a statement issued late Tuesday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) indicated that the delegations “affirmed their commitment to de-escalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions.” It added, “There was substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation at sea, but significant differences remain.”
During the talks, Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro emphasized to her Chinese counterpart, Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong, that “the Philippines will be relentless in protecting its interests and upholding its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction” in the South China Sea.
The two sides signed an agreement to enhance communications during maritime emergencies and agreed to continue discussions on boosting cooperation between their coast guards. Another confidence-building measure included plans to convene an academic forum to promote marine scientific collaboration.
Ahead of the meeting, the Philippines intended to formally request the return of at least seven rifles seized by Chinese coast guard personnel during the June 17 standoff at the shoal, as well as compensation for the damage incurred, according to a Philippine official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The Bicameral Consultative Mechanism meetings, first held in 2017, were designed to manage conflicts peacefully. However, maritime confrontations have continued, particularly under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has fostered closer military ties with the United States as a counterbalance to China.
The South China Sea, a strategic region rich in fishing grounds and potential gas deposits, is claimed in overlapping parts by the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei. While sporadic confrontations between Chinese forces and those of Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia have occurred, Southeast Asian nations have generally avoided aggressive actions against China to maintain economic stability.
Under Marcos, who assumed office in 2022, the Philippines has ramped up efforts to expose Chinese aggression by releasing videos and photographs of incidents and allowing journalists to join coast guard patrols that have engaged in tense encounters with Chinese forces.
Although the United States has no territorial claims in the South China Sea, it has conducted patrols with warships and fighter jets to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight, reassuring allies such as the Philippines and Japan, which also has territorial disputes with China in the East China Sea.
Following last month’s confrontation at Second Thomas Shoal, where Chinese forces were recorded wielding machetes, an axe, and improvised spears, Washington reiterated its commitment under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty to defend the Philippines if its forces come under armed attack, including in the South China Sea. However, President Marcos noted that the treaty would not be activated since no shots were fired during the incident.
