South China Sea: Philippines, Beijing hold ‘frank’ talks amid Sabina Shoal feud

Manila and Beijing held another round of talks under its bilateral consultation mechanism in China on September 11, where the two nations also “agreed to continue discussions on areas of cooperation, especially on hotline mechanisms, coastguard cooperation, and marine scientific and technological cooperation,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Chinese foreign ministry, in a statement on the talks it issued on Wednesday night, said it reiterated its demand for the immediate withdrawal of a Philippine vessel and vowed to “firmly uphold its sovereignty”.

The talks, which both sides described as “frank”, come at a time of heightened tensions in Sabina Shoal, where both the Philippines and China had accused each other of ramming their vessels last month.

The Philippine coastguard has anchored its Theresa Magbanua vessel since mid-April on suspicion that China was undertaking reclamation activities around the shoal.