Summit planned to seek ways to ‘talk sense’ into China, Philippines envoy says

At least 20 nations are set to take part in the talks on the sidelines of this month’s UN General Assembly amid South China Sea disputes

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Chinese coastguard ships fire water cannons towards a Philippine vessel on its way to a resupply mission in the South China Sea in March. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:03am, 11 Sep 2024Updated: 11:39am, 11 Sep 2024

A summit of at least 20 nations is planned on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this month to seek ways “to talk some sense” into China over its confrontation with the Philippines in the South China Sea, Manila’s Washington envoy said on Tuesday.

“The more countries band together and give a message to China that what they’re doing is definitely not on the right side of history, then we have a better than even chance that they will not make that wrong move that we’re all fearing,” the envoy, Jose Manuel Romualdez said.

Romualdez did not elaborate on plans for the summit, which he said would take place on the sidelines of the annual General Assembly in New York in the week of September 22.

The United States is Manila’s key ally. The US State Department and the White House did not immediately respond when asked about the plan.

The Philippines and China have exchanged accusations of intentionally ramming coastguard vessels in the disputed South China Sea in recent months, including a violent clash in June in which a Filipino sailor lost a thumb.

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