Philippine and Chinese foreign ministers hold talks in Manila and both issue strong protests over an encounter between vessels this week in contested South China Sea waters. According to reporting from multiple outlets, the meeting takes place as tensions related to the incident cast a shadow over this week’s ASEAN-related activities in Manila. Both countries accuse the other of instigating the encounter near Second Thomas Shoal. The Philippine side and the Chinese side each convey their position directly to the other during the ministerial exchange, using formal diplomatic channels to register objections and demand an explanation. The dispute is part of a broader contest over maritime claims in the South China Sea, where multiple countries—including the Philippines and China—assert overlapping rights. The reports also characterize the exchange as significant in tone, with both ministers making clear that they consider the incident unacceptable and seek to prevent escalation. The specific details of vessel movements are not fully reconciled in the summaries, but the diplomatic positions presented in the meeting are consistent across sources: each side places responsibility for the incident on the other.