Metro Manila, Philippines – Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held high-level bilateral talks Wednesday, July 22, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila, a day after Manila and Beijing summoned each other’s ambassadors over the latest confrontation near Ayungin Shoal.
The meeting came as tensions flared again in the South China Sea after the Armed Forces of the Philippines said China Coast Guard personnel struck a Philippine Navy sailor in the head with a wooden baton and damaged a Navy rubber boat during a lawful mission to BRP Sierra Madre.
The Department of Foreign Affairs called the violence against Filipino personnel “unacceptable” and said it would take appropriate diplomatic action.
In an interview with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan after he was summoned by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacanang, the envoy said the discussions were “constructive” and covered not only Monday’s incident but also broader issues affecting bilateral relations.
“I think we were trying to focus on the solution, but not the conflict,” Jing told reporters.
Jing confirmed that China had also summoned the Philippine ambassador after the incident, describing it as a formal diplomatic step.
Despite the latest confrontation, he said both countries remain committed to continuing dialogue and pursuing negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.
“Sometimes we don’t agree with each other, but at least we should talk to each other. We should find a way to manage those issues and prevent those issues from becoming something explosive to our nations,” Jing said.
The ambassador also said the recent incident would not derail efforts to conclude negotiations on the Code of Conduct within the year.
