Global Impact | South China Sea clash raises stakes even higher as scepticism surrounds Manila talks

In this week’s issue, we look at the situation in the South China Sea after talks between China and the Philippines took place in Manila

Reading Time:7 minutes

Philippine Coast Guard personnel filming a China Coast Guard vessel during a supply mission in disputed waters of the South China Sea. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:00pm, 15 Jul 2024Updated: 7:04pm, 17 Jul 2024

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The recent clash in the South China Sea – one of the most intense skirmishes in recent memory – revealed the fragility of peace in this volatile region.

Following the incident, officials from China and the Philippines convened in Manila, striving to navigate their stark maritime disagreements over this strategic and highly-valuable global shipping route.

The discussions centred on managing the precarious situation at the Second Thomas Shoal, with both sides pledging to sustain dialogue and consultation to control disputes and differences. Yet, scepticism looms amid the momentum.

Analysts said that it remains to be seen whether the resilience of the bilateral consultative mechanism and the trust between Manila and Beijing – even if eroding – can indeed cool the waters in one of Asia’s most disputed areas.

With tensions simmering and the dialogue channel seemingly constricting, the stakes are higher than ever.

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