China's eyes now towards Philippines, sent coast guard ship, meeting continues between the two countries

Manila: Philippine diplomats recently held talks with Chinese officials after a large Chinese coast guard vessel entered their country's territorial waters. This talk took place in Xiamen city of China. Information about this matter has been given by Radio Free Asia (RFA).

According to RFA, the meeting took place on Thursday during the 10th Bilateral Consultative Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea, a series of diplomatic dialogues launched in 2017 to reduce tensions between the two countries over competing claims in the area. Is.

Increasingly controversial issues of maritime activities

Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Ma Theresa Lazaro led the Philippine delegation, while Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong led the Chinese side. The talks focused on the increasingly controversial issue of China's maritime activities in the South China Sea, particularly the presence of CCG 5901, a 12,000-tonne coast guard vessel nicknamed “the Monster”.

The ship, which is the world's largest of its kind, was recently spotted patrolling the resource-rich Scarborough Shoal, an area that the Philippines claims as part of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) , as reported by RFA.

Dangerous maneuver report

The Philippine delegation expressed “serious concern” about the presence of the ship, which has raised concerns among Manila officials. Despite no reports of dangerous maneuvers, the Philippine government argued that China's actions violated international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the recently enacted Philippine Maritime Zone Act.

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According to RFA, Manila has already lodged a formal protest over China's activities in the region. In response, China has repeatedly defended its maritime presence, saying its jurisdiction over Scarborough Shoal is “completely justified,” as RFA reported.

Considering legal action

However, the Philippines has warned that China's actions are increasing tensions, with a national security official saying Manila is considering legal action against Beijing. The diplomatic confrontation highlights the growing confrontation over the South China Sea, an area rich in natural resources and vital trade routes.

(with agency input)