China and the Philippines traded strong diplomatic protests on Wednesday after a fresh confrontation between their vessels in the disputed South China Sea, highlighting the continued deterioration in relations despite efforts to keep dialogue channels open.
The exchange came during talks in Manila between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Philippines Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro, days after a tense encounter near the Second Thomas Shoal.
In a post on X, Lazaro said she reiterated Manila’s protest over what she described as China’s “unacceptable actions against Filipino personnel.”
Beijing, however, issued its own protest. According to China’s Foreign Ministry, Wang accused Philippine personnel of committing the “egregious act of ramming Chinese law-enforcement vessels.”
The latest confrontation occurred on Monday near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.
The Philippines said Chinese Coast Guard personnel struck one of its navy servicemen on the head with a wooden baton during the incident. China rejected the accusation, saying Philippine personnel initiated the confrontation by attacking Chinese officers and deliberately ramming a Chinese patrol vessel.
The exchange marks the latest flashpoint in the long-running South China Sea dispute, where China claims almost the entire waterway despite a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claims.
During the meeting, Wang told Lazaro that China-Philippines relations had reached “a crossroads” and urged Manila to make what he called a “correct and rational” choice regarding the future direction of bilateral ties.
He also accused “certain forces” within the Philippine military and police of deliberately provoking incidents at sea, claiming they were acting under the influence of “external forces” and undermining dialogue between the two countries.
Despite the sharp exchange, Lazaro said both sides discussed the importance of maintaining open communication channels, managing tensions and exploring practical ways to prevent further escalation.
The meeting comes amid one of the lowest points in China-Philippines relations in recent years, with repeated confrontations between coast guard and naval vessels intensifying tensions across the contested South China Sea.
(with inputs from Reuters)
