Philippine and Chinese Coast Guard ships are seen during a civilian resupply mission of the Atin Ito Coalition to the Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea on May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/file

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:952px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17261000853841726100081921.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Philippine and Chinese Coast Guard ships are seen during a civilian resupply mission of the Atin Ito Coalition to the Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea on May 16, 2024.<em id="isPasted"> Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/file </em></span></span></span></div><p>BEIJING - China on Wednesday said it held &quot;candid&quot; high-level talks with the Philippines on South China Sea issues, in particular over a disputed reef that has been the scene of recent bilateral clashes.</p><p>Chinese vice foreign minister Chen Xiaodong met with his Philippine counterpart Maria Theresa Lazaro in Beijing, China&#x27;s foreign ministry wrote in a statement.</p><p>&quot;The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on maritime issues between China and the Philippines, especially the issue of Xianbin Reef&quot;, the ministry said, using the Chinese name for the Sabina Shoal.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/7/nearly-100-of-corals-at-escoda-shoal-dead-or-dying-up-scientists-find-1842" id="isPasted">‘Ecological disaster’: Nearly 100% of corals at Escoda Shoal dead or dying, UP scientists find</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/1/china-may-be-trying-to-drive-brp-teresa-magbanua-out-of-escoda-shoal-analyst-1456" id="isPasted">China may be trying to drive BRP Teresa Magbanua out of Escoda Shoal — analyst</a></div><p>In recent weeks, Philippine and Chinese vessels have clashed multiple times in the waters around the flashpoint shoal, where the Philippine Coast Guard has anchored a ship to prevent China seizing the ring of reefs.</p><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3068246"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script></div><p>China reiterated on Wednesday its demand for the &quot;immediate withdrawal&quot; of the Philippine vessel and said it would &quot;firmly uphold its sovereignty&quot;.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/10/207-chinese-ships-spotted-in-west-philippine-sea-in-new-record-high-navy-1315" id="isPasted">207 Chinese ships spotted in West Philippine Sea in new record-high: Navy</a></div><p>This month, Beijing insisted it was defending its &quot;rights&quot; after the Philippines released footage appearing to show a Chinese coast guard vessel ramming one of its ships during an at-sea confrontation.</p><p>Sabina Shoal is located 140 kilometres (86 miles) west of the Philippine island of Palawan and about 1,200 kilometres from Hainan island, the nearest major Chinese landmass.</p><p>Recent clashes between Philippine and Chinese vessels have also taken place near other disputed reefs.</p><p>This week, a senior US military official warned his Chinese counterpart against Beijing&#x27;s &quot;dangerous&quot; moves in the South China Sea, where Manila is a key ally of Washington.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/9/10/us-military-warns-beijing-against-dangerous-south-china-sea-moves-in-talks-1322" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">US military warns Beijing against &#x27;dangerous&#x27; South China Sea moves in talks</a></div><p>Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, and Wu Yanan, head of the Chinese army&#x27;s Southern Theater Command, talked via video call on Tuesday China time as the two superpowers sought to re-establish regular military-to-military talks.</p><p>Beijing claims almost all of the economically vital South China Sea despite competing claims from other countries.</p><p>During China&#x27;s meeting with the Philippines on Wednesday, &quot;the two sides agreed to continue to maintain communication through diplomatic channels&quot;, the Chinese foreign ministry said.</p><p>sam/ehl/bfm</p><p>© Agence France-Presse</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0lKhtTFzKI8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>China on Wednesday said it held "candid" high-level talks with the Philippines on South China Sea issues, in particular over a disputed reef that has been the scene of recent bilateral clashes.</p>

China on Wednesday said it held "candid" high-level talks with the Philippines on South China Sea issues, in particular over a disputed reef that has been the scene of recent bilateral clashes.

China, Philippines hold 'candid' talks on disputed shoal | ABS-CBN

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China, Philippines hold 'candid' talks on disputed shoal

China, Philippines hold 'candid' talks on disputed shoal

Agence France-Presse

Published Sep 12, 2024 08:17 AM PHT

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escoda shoal

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