Philippines, China to boost communication lines on sea disputes

Manila: The Philippines and China have agreed to raise the number of communication channels that can be used to resolve maritime spats, a diplomatic s...

Manila: The Philippines and China have agreed to raise the number of communication channels that can be used to resolve maritime spats, a diplomatic source told AFP on Wednesday.

Manila and Beijing have a long history of territorial disputes in the South China Sea, but a violent clash at Second Thomas Shoal last month frayed relations between the countries.

Chinese coast guard personnel wielding knives, sticks and an axe surrounded and boarded three Philippine navy boats on June 17 during a resupply mission to Filipino troops stationed at the reef.

A Filipino sailor lost a finger in the clash, which was the most serious in a recent series of escalating confrontations.

Manila and Beijing agreed to de-escalate tensions and improve the Philippines-China Maritime Communications Mechanism at a bilateral consultative meeting on July 2, the diplomatic source said Wednesday.