Beijing and Manila have held talks to manage tensions over a South China Sea reef that has become the most dangerous flashpoint in the Indo-Pacific that the US has warned is covered by its defence treaty with the Philippines.
Chinese and Philippine diplomats met in Manila on Tuesday to discuss the situation at the Second Thomas Shoal. In recent months, China’s coast guard has used increasingly aggressive tactics to stop the Philippines from sending supplies to marines stationed on a ship called the Sierra Madre that is marooned on the submerged reef.
The Philippines said the two sides had made “substantial progress” towards managing the tensions but that “significant differences” remained. It stressed that it would be “relentless” in protecting its maritime rights.