First China-Philippines talks in over a year: is a South China Sea thaw in the offing?

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Laura ZhouFebruary 8, 2026 at 11:00 AM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

After a year-long break and rising tensions over the South China Sea, China and the Philippines held talks in Cebu on January 29th. The meeting followed heated exchanges and calls in the Philippines to declare the Chinese ambassador persona non grata. Both sides described the talks as frank and in-depth, agreeing to maintain diplomatic communication. The discussions aim to manage ongoing South China Sea disputes and navigate geopolitical uncertainties, potentially influenced by shifts in US foreign policy. China's ambassador to the Philippines indicated a "preliminary consensus on a road map" to manage tensions, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic solutions to avoid conflict. The timing coincides with global assessments of US foreign policy shifts, potentially impacting regional dynamics.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Nicolas Maduro (Maduro) 40% Donald Trump 50% Chinese foreign ministry 60% Beijing 60% Manila ×260% United States ×260% Jing Quan 70% Ferdinand Marcos Jnr 70% China ×390% Philippines ×390% South China Sea ×395%

Keywords

south china sea 100% china-philippines relations 90% diplomatic talks 80% political tensions 70% bilateral ties 60% us policy 50% geopolitical uncertainties 50% ferdinand marcos jnr 40% donald trump 40%