MANILA – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Friday said he will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in San Francisco to discuss tensions and formulate ways forward in the South China Sea.

“We will get the view of the Chinese President on what we can do to bring down the temperature, to not escalate the situation in the West Philippine Sea,” Mr Marcos said in a video message.

Manila refers to the part of the South China Sea that it claims as the West Philippine Sea.

“We will put together the ways forward because we are continuously trying to maintain the peace,” Mr Marcos said ahead of meeting Mr Xi.

Mr Marcos said he also discussed South China Sea issues with United States Vice-President Kamala Harris.

China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

China claims sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea.

It points to a line on its maps that cuts into the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

Taiwan, which China also claims as part of its territory, has said it does not accept Beijing’s maps.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said the line on China’s maps had no legal basis, which Beijing rejects.

The Philippine Foreign Ministry on Thursday committed to continue resupply missions and an “upkeep” of a grounded navy ship in a disputed South China Sea atoll, saying it does not have to give prior notice to China.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also called on China to remove all “illegal structures” it built within the Philippines’ EEZ, cease reclamation in those areas and be accountable for the damage the activities caused. REUTERS