China has called on the Philippines to comply with the recent agreement to ease tensions in the contentious South China Sea. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Manila to honor its commitments and avoid complications.
The two diplomats met at an ASEAN meeting in Laos, where other Southeast Asian countries also have claims in the region. The Philippines hopes that China will keep its end of the deal, which would allow Manila to continue supplying its military personnel on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, but the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in 2016 that some of China's claims were unlawful. The recent clashes have raised concerns of a potential conflict, drawing the attention of the United States due to its defense agreement with the Philippines.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Laos to meet with ASEAN foreign ministers, including Wang Yi. Additionally, China warned the Philippines against the deployment of US missiles, fearing heightened tensions and an arms race.
