Ranking diplomats from the Philippines and China met in Beijing for a two-day dialogue aimed at containing the word war between Chinese diplomats in Manila and Filipino officials that erupted in late December.
Marshall Louis Alferez, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs, held talks with Chinese officials Liu Jinsong and Hou Yanqi. This marked the first high-level meeting since the heated online exchange between the two sides.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the officials engaged in “an open and candid exchange of views on prevailing bilateral concerns, and explored ways to advance mutually-beneficial cooperation.”
Foreign Affairs Maritime Affairs spokesperson Rogelio Villanueva explained that the talks were prompted by recent incidents and exchanges between the Chinese Embassy and Philippine officials.
“That’s only one part of the reason why we wanted to push through with the direct negotiations, bilateral discussion between the Philippines and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Villanueva said.
The meeting also included discussions on scheduling the next bilateral consultation mechanism (BCM), with the DFA coordinating closely with China to determine the most suitable timing and environment.
Villanueva emphasized that the dialogue reflects the Philippines’ commitment to peaceful maritime management amid ongoing sea disputes.
“This is consistent with the second core dynamic of maritime statecraft – the proactive effort to keep bilateral and regional channels open,” he said.
“This shows our commitment to managing the situation at sea peacefully, further reflected by our mandate to assert and uphold Philippine interests while also seeking common ground where possible.”