China and the Philippines have reaffirmed the importance of diplomatic communication amid growing political tensions between the two countries.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a telephone conversation on Tuesday to discuss bilateral relations. The discussion took place two weeks after Manila summoned China’s ambassador over comments that Philippine officials interpreted as a threat of military force.
In a statement shared on X, Lazaro described the conversation as frank and constructive. She said both countries recognized the importance of maintaining diplomatic engagement and addressing their disagreements through mutual respect.
The diplomatic exchange followed remarks by Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan, who was summoned by Philippine authorities after responding to comments made by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. Teodoro had described China as a troublemaker in the region.
During his interaction with reporters, Jing rejected suggestions that Beijing intended to use military force, saying China preferred peaceful relations despite its military capabilities. He also maintained that China would not choose force to resolve differences.
China had imposed sanctions on Teodoro in July, accusing him of making repeated irresponsible statements that harmed Chinese interests and damaged relations between the two countries.
The latest diplomatic tensions come against the backdrop of repeated confrontations involving Chinese and Philippine vessels in disputed areas of the South China Sea. These maritime disagreements continue to complicate relations between Beijing and Manila.
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