Philippines and China pledge dialogue after ministers’ call

The Philippines and China said they would continue dialogue and manage disputes peacefully after Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke by phone on November 3, as Beijing criticized Filipino politicians and Manila prepared to host an ASEAN summit later this month. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said the ministers discussed bilateral relations and maritime issues. It described the call as frank, pragmatic and constructive, and said both sides favored avoiding actions and rhetoric that could needlessly heighten tensions. The department said disputes should be managed peacefully and responsibly, while regular high-level exchanges and diplomatic channels should continue. China’s Foreign Ministry gave a more critical account of the discussion. It said Wang accused some Filipino politicians of repeatedly attacking China and crossing its red lines, and urged Manila to restrain them and present a unified policy toward Beijing. The Chinese statement did not identify the politicians or specify the remarks that prompted the criticism. The Philippine foreign ministry’s account emphasized dialogue and did not independently confirm...