South China Sea: Manila, Beijing tap backchannel efforts to resolve disputes

In Singapore, Marcos Jnr and Philippine defence officials will be in close physical proximity to Chinese military officials, who ordered blockades and the use of water cannons against Philippine vessels in a months-long row in the contested waterway.

“Any point of contact that I can establish, I will use it, and at every level, as long as it brings us progress in terms of resolving these [issues],” Marcos Jnr said.

Under the supposed model, Manila would only deploy one coastguard vessel and a resupply boat to the shoal, while China would only launch one coastguard ship and a fishing boat.

Marcos Jnr and Philippine defence and military officials have denied agreeing to such an arrangement.

Marcos said in Brunei that he was open to negotiating with China on putting an end to “aggressive actions” such as water cannons and lasers and allowing Filipino fishermen to fish safely again.

He also noted the summit’s focus on the West Philippine Sea and its importance to global trade, saying his invitation to give the keynote speech was a “recognition of challenges facing the Philippines”.

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Philippine admiral at centre of ‘new deal’ saga breaks silence on alleged South China Sea pact

“Any reference on the part of Marcos Jnr [about] … the simmering tensions over the Second Thomas Shoal, and his rejection of Beijing’s claim about a 2016 agreement allegedly struck with Manila over access to the South China Sea islands, is likely to invite pushback from the Chinese, who have accused Manila and Washington of joining forces against Beijing.”