Philippines and China hold 'frank, candid' talks on South China Sea

Manila and Beijing meet again amid heightened tensions in Sabina Shoal

A Philippine supply boat sails near a China Coast Guard ship during a resupply mission for Filipino troops stationed at a grounded warship in the South China Sea in October 2023. © Reuters

September 12, 2024 11:01 JST

MANILA (Reuters) -- The Philippines reaffirmed its position on Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea even as it agreed with China to explore ways to lower the tension in the area, its Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

Manila and Beijing held another round of talks under a bilateral consultation mechanism on Wednesday in China, where the two nations also "agreed to continue discussions on areas of cooperation, especially on hotline mechanisms, coast guard cooperation, and marine scientific and technological cooperation," the ministry said in a statement.