Philippine President Marcos, China's Xi Jinping meet to find ways to reduce South China Sea tensions

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday, aiming to explore ways for easing tensions in the South China Sea and restoring the access of Filipino fishermen to fishing areas.

During the APEC Summit in San Francisco, Marcos emphasised the importance of ongoing communication between the Philippines and China as a crucial element in the process of maintaining peace and ensuring the free passage of sea and air routes in the South China Sea.

He said, "We tried to come up with mechanisms to lower the tensions in the South China Sea," reported Reuters.

Expressing his concerns about incidents involving Chinese and Philippine vessels, including collisions, Marcos highlighted the challenges faced by Filipino fishermen. He advocated a return to the previous situation where both Chinese and Filipino fishermen operated together in the contested waters.

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Filipino fishermen have reported interference from Chinese coastguard and maritime militia vessels, impeding their fishing activities within the Philippines' 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

Emphasising the need to avoid letting geopolitical issues define the bilateral relationship, Marcos and Xi agreed that such problems should not overshadow their countries' connections.

Since assuming office in 2022, Marcos has pursued closer ties with the United States, diverging from the pro-Beijing stance of his predecessor. This shift has included granting the United States expanded access to military bases, drawing criticism from Beijing, particularly in regions adjacent to the South China Sea and Taiwan.

With inputs from agencies