The Philippines and China reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and sustaining high-level engagement during back-to-back consultations held on March 27 to 28 in Quanzhou, where both sides discussed maritime differences in the South China Sea.
In a statement released late Saturday night, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) indicated that the 24th Foreign Ministry Consultations (FMC) and the 11th Meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea served as platforms for open and honest dialogue on various issues and concerns.
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In response, the Chinese Embassy in Manila stated that China lodged formal representations regarding the Philippines’ recent maritime-related “infringements and provocations.”
A report from a local Chinese media network said the Chinese side urged the Philippines to “align its words with actions, return to resolving maritime issues through dialogue and consultation, and create conditions favorable for stabilizing bilateral relations.”
The Philippine delegation was led by DFA Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim, while the Chinese delegation was headed by Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong.
These meetings built on the ongoing dialogue process that began in Cebu and continued in Beijing earlier this year, paving the way for a meeting between the two countries’ foreign ministers later this year.
During the FMC, both sides engaged in a “candid and productive” exchange on strategic, political-security, and law-enforcement issues, the DFA said.
“At the FMC, both sides held a candid and productive exchange on bilateral concerns, including strategic, political-security and law enforcement issues,” the statement read.
“The Philippine side reaffirmed its commitment to handle bilateral issues in line with the Philippine national interest, while advancing mutually beneficial cooperation especially in the economic and people-to-people areas,” it added.
The DFA noted that both parties acknowledged current global uncertainties, especially developments in the Middle East, and discussed potential cooperation in trade and economic sectors.
As the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2026, the Philippines emphasized its commitment to playing a responsible role in regional discussions, upholding ASEAN centrality, and reinforcing a rules-based order that promotes regional peace and stability.
Additionally, during the BCM, both nations engaged in a “frank and thorough” exchange of views regarding the situation in the South China Sea, the DFA said.
“The Philippine side firmly reiterated its principled positions and raised concerns over incidents affecting the safety of Filipino personnel and fishermen, including actions that have disrupted lawful activities and posed risks at sea,” the statement added.
In reply to the Chinese embassy, the DFA emphasized the importance of diplomacy and communication for managing maritime differences while upholding international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.
The two sides also advanced practical measures to build confidence in the maritime domain, such as coast guard-to-coast guard communication, ocean meteorology cooperation, and initial discussions on potential oil and gas collaboration, the department added.
This statement follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s expression of willingness to resume talks with China regarding a joint oil and gas project in a disputed area of the South China Sea during an exclusive interview with Bloomberg.
The Chinese Embassy stressed that setting aside differences and pursuing joint development is the best approach to maintaining peace and stability in the contested waters.
The FMC was last held in Manila in March 2023, and the previous BCM took place in Xiamen in January 2025.
The most recent BCM in Xiamen in 2025 resulted in agreements to maintain an ongoing “provisional arrangement” to prevent further clashes during the Philippine resupply mission.
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