Sea Talks, Sharp Tension: PH and China Reopen Channel While WPS Heat Stays On

The Philippines and China have reopened a formal diplomatic channel through meetings in Quanzhou, but the move comes while tensions in the West Philippine Sea remain very much alive. So yes, may usap, pero may banggaan pa rin ng interests.

Rappler reported that Philippine and Chinese officials met from March 27 to 28 for the Foreign Ministry Consultations and the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea. The Philippine side was led by DFA Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the meetings were meant for frank and candid exchanges on bilateral concerns and for exploring possible cooperation in non-sensitive areas. That makes the talks important, especially because the consultation mechanism is where both sides discuss overlapping claims and incidents at sea.

The renewed contact also fits into Manila’s broader attempt to reset ties with Beijing while the Philippines chairs ASEAN in 2026. Part of that wider diplomatic push includes efforts to move forward the Code of Conduct discussions for the South China Sea and explore energy-related conversations tied to Recto Bank.

But diplomacy is moving beside continuing friction, not in place of it. The same Rappler report noted that harassment incidents have continued, and only days before the meetings a Chinese frigate sailed close to BRP Benguet near Pag-asa Island. In short, the hotline is warmer, pero the waters are still rough.

Source: Rappler