Manila, Beijing resume talks on South China Sea, energy security

## Summary
Advertisement Asia Manila, Beijing resume talks on South China Sea, energy security The talks come after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a national energy emergency earlier this week, citing oil supply disruptions due to the Middle East conflict and announced efforts to diversify fuel imports, including sourcing from China. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST MANILA: The Philippines and China have resumed high-level talks this week over the disputed South China Sea , exploring preliminary steps toward oil and gas cooperation while addressing energy and fertiliser supply issues amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, the Philippine foreign ministry said. CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less The talks come after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national energy emergency earlier this week, citing oil supply disruptions due to the Middle East conflict and announcing efforts to diversify fuel imports, including sourcing from China. BEIJING'S EXPANSIVE CLAIMS Beijing's expansive claims over the South China Sea overlap with the exclusive economic zones of multiple Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines.

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Manila, Beijing resume talks on South China Sea, energy security
The talks come after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a national energy emergency earlier this week, citing oil supply disruptions due to the Middle East conflict and announced efforts to diversify fuel imports, including sourcing from China.
An aerial view shows the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, locally known as Pag-asa, in the contested Spratly Islands, South China Sea, March 9, 2023. (Photo: REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez)
29 Mar 2026 12:54AM
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MANILA: The Philippines and China have resumed high-level talks this week over the
disputed South China Sea
, exploring preliminary steps toward oil and gas cooperation while addressing energy and fertiliser supply issues amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, the Philippine foreign ministry said.
The 11th round of talks under a bilateral consultation mechanism established in 2017 was the first such meeting since January 2025.
Manila "firmly reiterated its principled positions," raising concerns about incidents threatening Filipino personnel and fishermen, and underscoring the importance of diplomacy, communication, and adherence to international law, the ministry said in a statement on Saturday (Mar 28).
STABLE ENERGY, FERTISILER ACCESS
Both sides discussed initial exchanges on oil and gas cooperation and emphasised stable energy and fertiliser access.
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The talks come after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national energy emergency earlier this week, citing oil supply disruptions due to the Middle East conflict and announcing efforts to diversify fuel imports, including sourcing from China.
The talks also addressed renewable energy, agriculture, trade, and potential people-to-people initiatives, such as visa-free travel and direct air routes, the ministry said. The Philippines added that both sides "continued to make progress" to shore up confidence at sea, including communication between their coast guards.
In a separate statement, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong called for "concrete actions" from the Philippines to improve ties.
Further consultations between the countries' foreign ministers are planned for later this year.
BEIJING'S EXPANSIVE CLAIMS
Beijing's expansive claims over the South China Sea overlap with the exclusive economic zones of multiple Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines.
Recent maritime confrontations have heightened tensions, with Manila accusing Beijing of "dangerous manoeuvres" and deploying water cannon to interfere with its resupply missions in contested areas.
A 2016 international arbitral ruling invalidated China's claims, but Beijing has refused to acknowledge the decision.
The meeting also marked the first broader discussion on bilateral relations since March 2023, aimed at fostering maritime cooperation and confidence-building, the Philippine ministry said.
Related:
China warns US against building ammunition facility in Philippines
China’s top legislator promotes ‘Asian security model’, positions Beijing as global growth driver
Sinking of Iran warship: 5 questions on US strike and whether Southeast Asia should be concerned
Source: Agencies/fs
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Related Topics
South China Sea
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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- The Philippines added that both sides "continued to make progress" to shore up confidence at sea, including communication between their coast guards.

### Areas for Consideration
- CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less The talks come after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national energy emergency earlier this week, citing oil supply disruptions due to the Middle East conflict and announcing efforts to diversify fuel imports, including sourcing from China.

### Implications
- Related: China warns US against building ammunition facility in Philippines China’s top legislator promotes ‘Asian security model’, positions Beijing as global growth driver Sinking of Iran warship: 5 questions on US strike and whether Southeast Asia should be concerned Source: Agencies/fs Newsletter Morning Brief Subscribe to CNA’s Morning Brief An automated curation of our top stories to start your day.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers china, energy, fast topics. Notable strengths include discussion of china. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 691.