Philippines President Marcos seeks reset of ties with China after South China Sea clash

On Tuesday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr met Chinese ambassador Jing Quan at the presidential palace for an 80‑minute closed‑door discussion. Marcos said he wants to “reset” the increasingly strained bilateral relationship and put ties back on a path of improvement.

The meeting follows a July 20 clash at the Ren’ai reef in the South China Sea that left a Filipino sailor injured. Chinese officials warned Manila not to tolerate provocations, with the ambassador noting the talks “went very well” but stressing that concrete actions are needed. U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to raise Manila’s concerns with Beijing. The dialogue reflects ongoing tensions over maritime disputes in the South China Sea.