The Philippines and China vowed to continue promoting vaccine cooperation to address the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and renewed ties in the other areas of bilateral relations, including the South China Sea issue.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila wrote in a Facebook post on Black Saturday morning that Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks in Nanping City, Fujian Province in China on Friday.

During their meeting, Wang told Locsin that China is willing to continue to promote vaccine cooperation with the Philippines, calling on both sides to solidly advance the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and endeavor to complete key projects on schedule.

"China is willing to work with the Philippines to further enhance the level of trade liberalization and facilitation, and explore cooperation in emerging areas such as cross-border e-commerce," Wang said.

In response, Locsin said the Philippines remained committed to further developing bilateral relations. He thanked China for its strong support to the Philippines in fighting the epidemic, particularly the aid and provision of vaccines.

Locsin, according to the Chinese Embassy in Manila, expressed that China's provision of vaccines is not to carry out "vaccine diplomacy," but to demonstrate its responsibility and that without China's support, it will be difficult for the region and the world to recover from the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Wang expressed China's willingness to work with ASEAN countries to promote the early implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, to accelerate consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, so as to maintain stability in the region.

However, it was not specified if the issue of the Julian Felipe Reef was discussed during the meeting.

Early this week, a Philippine military aircraft received warnings from a Chinese fleet when it flew over the Julian Felipe Reef to check the presence of Chinese vessels in an area that is considered way within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Over 200 suspected Chinese militia vessels flocked the reef last month.

In a tweet on Wednesday, Locsin said shooting down a Philippine military aircraft in the West Philippine Sea could end in either of two things: start of World War 3 or end of the prestige of the United States as a superpower and policeman of the world.

"If they had shot down our military aircraft two things would happen: World War 3 or the end of US prestige. Simple as that," he said.

"A small Filipino aircraft can cause the end of this part of the world which would be a small loss compared to dishonor. Life without honor is for insects," he added.