Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo meets China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang for talks in Manila that included Taiwan and disputes in the South China Sea. (AFP)The Philippines' top diplomat has expressed his concern to Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang over escalating tensions in waters around Taiwan, Manila said on Saturday. China claims Taiwan as its territory and has vowed to bring the island under its control one day, by force if necessary. China and the Philippines are also locked in a bitter maritime dispute in the strategic South China Sea. Manalo said differences in the South China Sea "are not the sum total" of relations between the two nations, which have agreed to manage disagreements through dialogue and cooperation.

Source: The Standard April 22, 2023 10:15 UTC