Beijing and Manila should avoid South China Sea ‘miscalculation’: top diplomats

Foreign ministers meet on margins of Asean event in Manila, days after fresh sea clash and outrage over video mocking 2016 arbitral ruling4-MIN READ4-MIN2ListenPublished: 7:38pm, 22 Jul 2026Updated: 7:58pm, 22 Jul 2026Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Philippine counterpart in Manila on Wednesday, with both sides highlighting the need for “reducing the risk of miscalculation” and maintaining stability in the China-sea" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="8346" data-entity-type="location">South China Sea.The meeting on the sidelines of the Asean foreign ministers’ gathering marked the first formal talks between the top diplomats since Maria Theresa Lazaro assumed office in July last year.It also came days after fresh tensions in the disputed waters, with Chinese coastguard and Philippine Navy vessels clashing on Monday near the Second Thomas Shoal, the first serious maritime encounter in months between the rival claimants.03:31China and the Philippines trade accusations after clash in South China SeaThe Philippine foreign ministry described Wednesday’s meeting between Wang and Lazaro as “candid, comprehensive and constructive”.