ISTANBUL

Beijing and Manila discussed maritime tensions Thursday following the deployment of a Chinese “monster ship” to waters off the coast of Zambales province in the Philippines, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong and Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro discussed the situation in the South China Sea in the Chinese port city of Xiamen.

China, in the talks, lodged “solemn representations” to the Philippines on the “recent infringement and provocative activities Manila has committed.

The ministry said Manila should “resolve differences with China through dialogue, jointly manage the maritime situation and push bilateral relations back on track as soon as possible.”

It added that the parties agreed to improve communication on maritime issues and continue to promote maritime cooperation.

The meeting is the 10th of the bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea between the parties.

China deployed its largest coast guard vessel on Saturday to waters off the coast of Zambales province.

Manila demanded Tuesday that China withdraw the "monster ship" from Philippines' territorial waters, issued a diplomatic protest and said it would use all channels to address the matter.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the coast guard "conducts law enforcement patrols in relevant waters in accordance with the law.”

Tensions between Beijing and Manila have intensified in recent months concerning the South China Sea, a region spanning 3.5 million square kilometers (1.35 million square miles) through which an estimated $11.3 billion in global trade passes annually, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The dispute underscores the growing regional frictions on the strategic waterway, with China claiming nearly all of the South China Sea, overlapping the territorial waters of several countries, including the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as the island of Taiwan.

Manila has consistently accused Beijing of aggressive actions, including the use of its coast guard and maritime militia to intimidate te Philippines’ vessels and fishermen.