Philippines and China agree to keep diplomatic dialogue open
Philippine Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed to maintain diplomatic dialogue after heated exchanges between their governments. Manila says the call addressed maritime issues, peaceful dispute management and high-level contacts. The conversation also covered upcoming regional meetings in the Philippines and China, against a background of longstanding maritime disagreements.
Geopolitics··Evening
Lazaro and Wang discuss stabilising relations
Philippine Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed to continue diplomatic dialogue during a telephone conversation on 3 November. The Philippine Foreign Affairs Department described the exchange as frank, pragmatic and constructive. Manila said both ministers recognised the importance of maintaining diplomatic engagement, avoiding words and actions that could heighten tensions, and handling differences through peaceful means.[1], [2]
Call follows dispute over ambassador’s remarks
The call followed heated exchanges over remarks by China’s ambassador in Manila, Jing Quan, about the maritime dispute. Some Philippine officials urged that he be declared persona non grata. The two governments have longstanding territorial and maritime disagreements. Manila said the conversation covered maritime issues and the 1975 Joint Communiqué, which it describes as the basis of bilateral cooperation and its One China policy.[1]
Regional meetings provide channels for high-level contact
Lazaro conveyed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s interest in Premier Li Qiang’s attendance at the 49th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Manila. Wang said China anticipated Marcos’s participation in the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ meeting in Shenzhen, China. The Philippine department also welcomed calls for restraint from business organisations and backed high-level exchanges, ministry channels and bilateral or regional mechanisms to sustain relations.[1]
