Diplomacy & Geopolitics
Chinese envoy says sea clash has not changed code-of-conduct talks
China's ambassador in Manila said Tuesday that renewed tension between China and the Philippines had not changed Beijing's desire to complete talks with Southeast Asian nations on rules of conduct in the South China Sea.
Filipino and Chinese sailors clashed at a disputed shoal on Monday in what the source described as their first serious encounter at sea in months. The clash drew condemnation of Beijing from Manila's allies.
Chinese ambassador Jing Quan spoke after meeting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos for closed-door talks. He said Beijing's willingness to finish code-of-conduct talks by the end of the year had not changed, regardless of bilateral events.
Jing said the code of conduct was separate from the territorial disputes that have repeatedly led to clashes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. He said he did not think the code would address those bilateral disputes, describing it instead as rules of engagement among relevant parties.
China also summoned Manila's envoy in Beijing on Tuesday to lodge what it called solemn representations over the sea clash.
The renewed hostilities came as Manila hosted foreign ministers from the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations for several days of talks. They were joined by counterparts from the United States, China, Japan, Russia and other countries.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Manila on Tuesday and was expected to meet his Philippine counterpart on Wednesday. During a meeting with ASEAN's secretary-general, Wang said the South China Sea was a shared home for regional countries and that South China Sea issues should not become a stumbling block to China-ASEAN relations, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told AFP the code of conduct would be a stabilising influence, but said the wider issues would not be resolved easily and would require extensive talks and diplomacy.
Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, a vital global trade route, despite an international ruling that found its claims have no legal basis. Southeast Asian nations have long sought a code of conduct with China for the waterway, although analysts cited by the source have warned that any document may not have strong enforcement.
Update
Chinese ambassador Jing Quan said the renewed clash had not changed Beijing's willingness to finish South China Sea code-of-conduct talks by the end of the year.
Jing said the code of conduct is separate from bilateral territorial disputes and is more about rules of engagement among relevant parties.
China summoned Manila's envoy in Beijing on Tuesday to lodge solemn representations over the sea clash.
The Philippines was hosting ASEAN foreign ministers and counterparts from the United States, China, Japan, Russia and other countries.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Manila on Tuesday and was expected to meet his Philippine counterpart on Wednesday.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said the code could be a stabilising influence but broader issues would require a lot of talks and diplomacy.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 15:48:38 UTC.
Update
The Philippines summoned China's ambassador after the clash at Second Thomas Shoal.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos met China's ambassador to Manila on Tuesday, according to presidential spokeswoman Claire Castro.
Castro said the meeting involved a matter of national security but gave no details.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Manila for an ASEAN summit and said he was open to meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, though no talks were publicly confirmed.
Rubio wrote in Philippine media that Washington remained committed to freedom of navigation in Southeast Asia and reaffirmed the US defensive umbrella in the region.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 11:36:55 UTC.
Update
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned what she called destabilising and dangerous conduct by China.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed in Manila for an ASEAN summit.
Rubio said he was open to meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the summit, though talks had not been publicly confirmed.
Rubio published an opinion article in Philippine media reaffirming US commitments on freedom of navigation and regional defence.
The source gives fuller wording from China's foreign ministry, which accused the Philippines of deliberate provocation and of distorting the facts.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 06:36:46 UTC.
Update
China's foreign ministry said China summoned the Philippine ambassador over the clash at a disputed shoal.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 04:49:54 UTC.
Update
The clash took place in waters near a grounded vessel that has long served as a Philippine garrison in the disputed South China Sea.
The China Coast Guard said it issued verbal warnings as well as reciprocal countermeasures against Philippine personnel.
The China Coast Guard rejected Manila's earlier account as a complete reversal of the truth.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 11:41:49 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The source does not report that the code-of-conduct talks have been completed.
The effectiveness or enforceability of any eventual code remains uncertain, according to analysts cited in the source.
Source
AFP news report published on .