On January 29, 2026, Director-General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Hou Yanqi met with Undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs Leo M. Herrera-Lim and Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs Marshall Louis M. Alferez in Cebu, the Philippines. The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on maritime affairs and other issues of mutual interest and agreed to continue to maintain communication through diplomatic channels.