CEBU CITY — Senior officials from the Philippines and China held discussions Thursday on the sidelines of the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) on the Declaration on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, marking the resumption of talks after more than a year-long hiatus.
In two separate statements, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Chinese Embassy in Manila announced that both countries agreed to continue maintaining communication through diplomatic channels.
“They underscored the importance of sustained diplomatic dialogue and continued cooperation across all sectors,” the DFA said.
“The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on maritime affairs and other issues of mutual interest and agreed to continue to maintain communication through diplomatic channels,” the Chinese Embassy added.
This statement followed recent public exchanges between the Chinese Embassy in Manila and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, as well as interactions with Philippine legislators, including Senators Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan, and Erwin Tulfo.
On January 26, the DFA underscored the need for cautious language and measured actions to ensure that public exchanges between the Philippines and China do not impede diplomatic efforts to manage maritime tensions.
During their discussions, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to open communication on bilateral relations, maritime affairs, and regional and international issues of shared interest, according to the DFA.
In January alone, the Chinese Embassy made several social media posts criticizing Tarriela and the three senators, who defended the PCG spokesperson against the officials of Beijing.
On Thursday, Malacañang said that designating officials from the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines as persona non grata remains a last-resort option.
This response came after the embassy said only President Marcos is authorized to send a notice for Beijing’s ambassador and his 12-member public diplomacy team to leave the country immediately.
Additionally, on Tuesday, a local government unit in Kalayaan, Palawan, passed a resolution declaring Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata within its municipal jurisdiction.
The Philippines was represented by DFA Undersecretary for Policy Leo Herrera-Lim while China was represented by Hou Yanqi, the Director-General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
