The Philippines reaffirmed its position on Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea even as it agreed with China to explore ways to lower the tension in area, its foreign ministry said on Thursday. Manila and Beijing held another round of talks under its bilateral consultation mechanism in China on Sept 11,

China and the Philippines held talks on their South China Sea dispute for the third time this year on Wednesday, after tensions escalated again at a new flashpoint in the contested waters.