Philippine diplomats are expected to voice their concerns regarding China’s actions in the South China Sea during talks with Chinese officials on Friday. These concerns include China targeting a Philippine coast guard ship with a military laser, among other incidents that highlight China’s aggressive behavior in the contested waters. The South China Sea disputes have long been a potential flashpoint in Asia and have become a sensitive front in the regional rivalry between China and the United States. While Washington does not lay any claims in the waters, it has deployed warships and fighter jets and repeatedly warned that it would help defend the Philippines if necessary. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the seaway, which holds vast deposits of oil and gas. The talks between the Chinese and Philippine officials opened on Thursday, with both sides citing an agreement between President Xi Jinping and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to manage territorial conflicts amicably while enhancing economic ties and other common interests. Despite these talks, however, no major resolution has been reached, as both sides have continued to stick to their territorial stance. Experts believe that the talks help both sides understand each other’s positions better and lessen the chance of accidental crises, but that they do not have the capacity to solve the fundamental issues between the two countries in the short term. In early February, the Marcos administration announced that it would allow rotating batches of American forces to indefinitely station in four more Philippine military camps. This has angered Chinese officials, as these camps would provide a staging ground close to southern China and Taiwan. The Chinese diplomats expressed their strong opposition to an expanded US military presence in the Philippines during closed-door talks on Thursday and warned of its future implications. Despite this opposition, however, the Philippine government plans to extend its Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the US, which allows for temporary US military presence in the country.
