Why Manila’s call for softer tone will not ease South China Sea tensions with Beijing

Manila’s efforts to strike a more conciliatory tone towards Beijing are unlikely to ease tensions in the contested South China Sea, a Chinese analyst has cautioned.

This was because the Philippine foreign ministry held minimal influence over actual maritime policy and enforcement operations, the South China Sea researcher said.

The assessment follows a rare public rebuke issued on Sunday by the Philippine ministry, cautioning officials against inflammatory rhetoric directed at China and calling...