While Russia's war against Ukraine and a wavering transatlantic alliance drew the world's attention at this year's Munich Security Conference, sparks also flew over claims in the South China Sea as debate involving participants representing Beijing and Manila dug into their positions in the region.

China's former deputy foreign minister Fu Ying said in a panel discussion, titled "Making Waves: Maritime Tensions in the Indo-Pacific", that Beijing would not accept occupation by the Philippines of new features that the Southeast Asian country has constructed in the South China Sea. Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo was part of the panel.

"China cannot agree for the Philippines to occupy Second Thomas Shoal and Sabina Shoal, because that is a violation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," Fu said, referring to a non-binding document signed by Beijing and Asean countries.

Fu insisted that the document's language - in particular, a pledge to "not to make more moves" - was watered down at Manila's request to entice the country to sign.

The declaration asks signatories to exercise "self-restraint" when conducting activities that would "complicate or escalate disputes", and refrain from building on the sea's uninhabited features.

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The presence of a dilapidated but still active Philippine Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre at the Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal) in the South China Sea has been denounced as unacceptable by Beijing. 

Further actions by Manila, including construction efforts to reinforce the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era tank landing ship deliberately positioned on the Second Thomas Shoal in 1999, have been denounced by Beijing as unacceptable.

China's coastguard has regularly used water cannons, blockades, and additional tactics to obstruct Philippine resupply efforts to the rusting warship stationed at the shoal, referred to as Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines.

These confrontations have precipitated several clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels over the past two years, including a notable incident in June that caused injuries to Filipino crew members.

Without naming China directly, Manalo said non-compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) is "creating tensions" in the busy maritime corridor that has become a flashpoint for conflict in recent years.

The top envoy said his country is following international law, and slammed "countries who reinterpret [Unclos] or apply their own domestic laws to certain areas and try to enforce them".

"The best way to reduce tensions in the South China Sea is for countries who have signed on for agreements, such as Unclos, to abide by these agreements. But it is not the case," he said, adding that "rich, powerful" countries are in a position to "assert their own laws against weaker countries, leading to greater contention".

The panel discussion, which drew a large audience of European and American think tank experts, as well as diplomatic and military officials, was one of the few events at the annual Munich conference exclusively focused on Asia.

Fu Ying, China's former deputy foreign minister, said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday that China cannot agree for the Philippines to occupy the Second Thomas Shoal.

Recent incidents involving Chinese military assets in the South China Sea have not been limited to the Philippines.

Last week, Canberra accused Chinese military aircraft of releasing flares within 30 metres of an Australian aircraft conducting "routine surveillance" of the contested waterway.

Referencing that incident, US Senator Christopher Coons, who also took part in the discussion, emphasised the necessity of open lines of communication between Washington and Beijing, especially given the volatile encounters in the region.

Open lines of communication reestablished during the administration of former president Joe Biden between the US and China military forces should be "sustained and advanced" to ensure quick communication and avoid misunderstanding, he said.

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