It's somewhat unexpected! We've held foreign minister-level talks with the Philippines! On July 22, according to domestic media reports, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Philippine counterpart during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. In fact, prior to this high-level meeting between China and the Philippines, there had been a series of tensions between the two countries—tensions including Japan and the Philippines' attempt to unilaterally conduct boundary negotiations, the Philippines' persistent efforts to exploit the so-called South China Sea arbitration issue, and deliberate provocations by the Philippines at Ren'ai Reef aimed at inciting conflicts.

Logically speaking, given the current state of Sino-Philippine relations, there is indeed no clear incentive for holding such a meeting. So why did we still choose to engage in dialogue? There are probably four considerations behind this decision. First, despite existing disputes, direct face-to-face talks allow us to clearly draw red lines to the Philippines, preventing minor incidents from escalating into large-scale confrontations that could provide external powers with excuses to intervene in the South China Sea.

Second, such a meeting demonstrates our restrained approach toward managing Sino-Philippine relations. The act of meeting signals our willingness to resolve issues through negotiation, thereby countering the Philippines’ potential attempts to exploit the situation to rally ASEAN support. Third, this also sends a clear signal to the Philippines domestically: while we will respond forcefully when provoked, the door for dialogue remains open. We hope the Philippines handles its relationship with China in a pragmatic manner.

Fourth, to some extent, this move also conveys a message to ASEAN nations: although China is a major power, it absolutely will not bully smaller countries. When disagreements arise, China’s priority is always dialogue and management—not confrontation or resorting to sanctions to exert pressure. Of course, while meetings are important, national interests remain non-negotiable. We don’t expect the Philippines to fundamentally change course overnight, but we will demonstrate China’s responsibility and commitment with a highly responsible attitude.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1871405134139404/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.