Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi talk upon arrival at the Department of Foreign Affairs for bilateral talks, in Manila, Philippines, July 6, 2022. Jam Sta Rosa/Pool via REUTERS
UPDATED MANILA, Philippines — Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said on Thursday he had a “frank and candid exchange” with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a telephone conversation this week.
“We both noted the importance of dialogue in addressing these issues,” Manalo said, referring to the call that took place on Wednesday.
“We had a frank and candid exchange and ended our call with a clearer understanding of our respective positions on a number of issues,” Manalo said, according to the DFA.
READ: Diplomatic efforts fail: Marcos eyes radical solution in West PH Sea row
According to the DFA, the phone call comes after the meeting between President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Chinese president Xi Jinping at the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders Summit in San Francisco.
The latter half of the year has seen several incidents over the West Philippine Sea (WPS), particularly between vessels of the Chinese Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard. Supply ships trying to enter Ayungin shoal to resupply troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre, which is beached there, have been water cannoned by the Chinese.
READ: BFAR vessels come under China water cannon attack
On one occasion, Chinese vessels collided with the Philippine Coast Guard ship that was escorting contracted resupply boats. President Marcos said he is eyeing radical solutions in the WPS as diplomatic efforts have failed to stop the growing incidents of China’s incursion.
READ: Chinese ship collides with PH resupply boat
Marcos admitted that confrontations in the disputed waters have fallen into a pattern, where the Philippines would engage in traditional methods of diplomacy after each incident by sending a note verbal, and the Philippine Embassy would send a démarche to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. With a report from Reuters