During latest bilateral consultative mechanism meeting on Wednesday, senior officials vow to ‘especially manage the situation at Renai Reef’, says Beijing.
The Philippines has built a new coast guard station on the contested island of Thitu in the South China Sea, boosting its ability to monitor movements of Chinese vessels and aircraft in the busy disputed waterway.
Joint maritime and air patrols in the South China Sea between the Philippines and the United States military were launched on Tuesday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said, describing it as a "significant initiative".