China wants its territorial dispute with the Philippines over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) resolved through dialogue, said a report on Wednesday, June 1, in China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency.

In the report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying urged the Philippines’ incoming President Rodrigo  Duterte to “return to dialogue” to resolve the dispute between Manila and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea.

“We hope the Philippines’ new government can honor their commitments and return to dialogue with China to properly handle the disputes so as to contribute to the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations,” said the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

Hua was reacting to the comment by incoming Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr supporting bilateral or one-on-one talks between the Philippines and China.

Yasay on GMA News on Monday, May 30, said talking with China remains “necessary” to resolve the West Philippine Sea dispute.

“I don’t think that there is another way of resolving this dispute except talking to each other,” Yasay said.