China, Philippines Agree to Open Communication in Maritime Dispute

On Tuesday the two countries announced that they had reached an agreement to show restraint in their dispute over an island chain in the South China Sea.

Defense Ministers from both nations met on Tuesday to keep the two month stand off from escalating. The agreement also includes keeping the lines of communication open to find a peaceful solution.

For decades several nearby countries have laid claim to the island chain – a claim made more intense in recent years, by the belief that the islands and water surrounding them are home to oil and natural gas reserves. Tensions between the two nations have been heightened since April when Chinese surveillance vessels blocked a Philippine warship from arresting a group of Chinese fishermen near the Scarborough Shoal.

Since this encounter both countries have had ships stationed in the area and both have imposed fishing bans on the waters surrounding the Scarborough Shoal.

The Philippine’s claims the island lie within their exclusive economic zone, while China claims they are a key part of their territory. China has denied a Philippine request to send the matter to international court.

Philippine's Exclusive Economic Zone