Chinese and Philippine foreign ministers exchanged protests over South China Sea encounter but emphasised the need for dialogue

China and the Philippines held their first bilateral foreign ministers' meeting in two years as the dispute between China and the Philippines over sovereignty in the South China Sea continues to escalate. Both parties lodge strong protests while emphasising the importance of dialogue to manage tensions. NTU’s Assoc Prof Dylan Loh said the meeting is unlikely to change the broader strategic situation or directly eliminate tensions but could pave the way for more bilateral engagements. He believes that Philippines' protest over the South China Sea sovereignty dispute, while reiterating its adherence to the "One China" principle, shows that Manila hopes to continue dialogue and communication with China and is striving to find a balance in this regard.

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