The Philippines is trying to bring China back to the negotiating table to resolve differences in the South China Sea, Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo said, Reuters reported, citing BTA.
A meeting between officials from the Philippines and China was held last week, setting the stage for more formal discussions planned for next month. These talks are aimed at exploring confidence-building measures.
Manalo said the progress made will not undermine the nation's sovereignty, rights or jurisdiction over its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The Philippines calls its part of the South China Sea the West Philippine Sea, emphasizing its claims and the importance of the area as part of the country's EEZ. That claim, however, is part of a larger, more complex dispute involving China and several other nations, including Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. Each of these countries has claims, in part because China claims almost all of the South China Sea with its 1947 map of the territories.
In 2016, an arbitral tribunal tried to clarify the issue by invalidating China's extensive claims, but Beijing refused to recognize legitimacy, maintaining its position and continuing the standoff in the strategic waters.