July 17, 2024

A direct line of communication between leaders' offices of China and the Philippines will help to manage disputes in the South China Sea via diplomatic channels, and will put the brakes on the simmering tension between the two countries. It sends a signal to extraterritorial countries that Beijing and Manila are ready to manage their conflicts, experts said.  

How effective this mechanism will depends largely on the Philippines' sincerity in settling down the disputes, as well as the results of coordination between different departments within the country, observers said.

The Philippines and China's communication mechanism on the South China Sea will soon extend to the two states' presidential representatives and top diplomats, the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday night, according to the Philippine News Agency.

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