The Philippines and China have agreed to “reduce tensions” in the South China Sea, said officials in Manila Tuesday following a recent clash in disputed waters.
Officials from the two sides held talks in Manila Tuesday.
Last month, the Philippines said Chinese Coast Guard personnel armed with knives, sticks and an axe, surrounded and took control of three Philippine Navy vessels near a disputed location, marking the most recent and severe incident in a series of dangerous confrontations.
During the June 17 altercation, a Filipino soldier lost a finger and Manila accused the Chinese Coast Guard of pilfering firearms and causing damage to three boats and navigational and communication equipment.
China’s foreign ministry had disputed the Philippine account of the incident, claiming that the necessary measures taken were lawful, professional, and beyond reproach.
In previous incidents, Chinese forces have employed water cannons, military-grade lasers and clashed with Filipino resupply vessels and their escort ships.
“Noting recent incidents in the South China Sea, both sides recognized that there is a need to restore trust, rebuild confidence, and create conditions conducive to productive dialogue and interaction,” the Philippine foreign ministry said Tuesday.
The Philippines and China have also agreed to consider cooperation between the coast guards and a framework for scientific collaboration, according to Manila.
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s foreign minister, urged a peaceful conflict resolution, highlighting areas like the South China Sea.
China asserts control over nearly all of the South China Sea, disregarding rival claims from Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration said in 2016 that China’s extensive claims in the South China Sea lack legal validity. China rejected the ruling.
“There was substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation at sea, but significant differences remain,” the Philippines Department of Foreign affairs (DFA) said in a statement.
