Manila and Beijing talking

Manila and Beijing have resumed formal talks on the South China Sea and possible energy cooperation after more than a year without this channel. (reuters.com) Philippine and Chinese officials held the 24th Foreign Ministry Consultations and the 11th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism meeting in Quanzhou, Fujian, on March 27-28, 2026. Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong led the delegations. (dfa.gov.ph) China’s foreign ministry said the two sides had a “candid and constructive exchange” on the South China Sea and agreed to keep dialogue going. The Philippine side said the talks also covered oil and gas, renewable energy, trade, agriculture and visa facilitation. (mfa.gov.cn) (pna.gov.ph) The talks reopened a line of contact that had been dormant since January 2025, after repeated confrontations around disputed features and resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea. Reuters reported this was the first Bilateral Consultation Mechanism meeting since January 2025. (reuters.com) They are running in parallel with visible military signaling. More than 17,000 troops from seven countries are set to join the 2026 Balikatan exercises in the Philippines from April 20 to May 8, with live-fire drills in Palawan and Ilocos Norte. (pna.gov.ph) The United States, Australia and the Philippines also held their second joint maritime exercise of 2026 in the South China Sea on April 13. Reuters said the drills took place amid continuing tensions with China in the disputed waterway. (reuters.com) Energy is one reason the diplomatic track has reopened. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in March he was open to reviving joint oil and gas discussions with China, and the Chinese Embassy in Manila said the two sides had made “positive progress” in in-depth discussions on joint development. (thediplomat.com) (gmanetwork.com) That opening has drawn criticism in Manila. Philstar reported on April 6 that Stratbase Institute and former lawmaker Neri Colmenares warned the Marcos administration not to trade maritime rights for oil talks with Beijing. (philstar.com) A separate opinion article published April 19 in Eurasia Review argued that disrupting the talks would hurt Philippine interests by removing a peaceful channel for managing disputes while tensions stay high at sea. That piece was commentary, not an official policy statement. (eurasiareview.com) For now, the clearest fact is that Manila is keeping two tracks open at once: alliance drills with the United States and direct talks with China. Both governments said more consultations are planned. (reuters.com) (mfa.gov.cn)