Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 21) — Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed the two countries’ issues during a phone call on Wednesday.
Manalo described his conversation with his Chinese counterpart as “a frank and candid exchange.”
“We… ended our call with a clearer understanding of our respective positions on a number of issues. We both noted the importance of dialogue in addressing these issues,” he said in a statement Thursday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the call followed a meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders Summit in San Francisco last month.
But Wang warned during the call that the Philippines must act with caution as the bilateral relationship now stands at a crossroads, Xinhua reported.
“He warned that if the Philippine side misjudges the situation, goes its own way, or even colludes with ill-intentioned external forces to continue to stir up troubles, China will defend its rights in accordance with law and respond resolutely,” the report added.
Wang was also quoted as saying that instead of continuing in the wrong direction, the Philippine side should return to the right path as soon as possible, with properly handling and managing the current maritime situation as a top priority.
Both countries agreed to soon hold a Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea, Xinhua said.
Beijing’s continuous aggression in the West Philippine Sea is a major concern for Manila.
Just this month alone, Filipino vessels suffered from Chinese ships’ water and sound cannon attacks, a move lambasted by a number of other nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom.
Marcos maintained that the West Philippine Sea is part of the country’s exclusive economic zone, promising that Filipino troops will continue to protect its sovereignty.
