The Department of National Defense said Thursday it has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to strengthen its presence in the West Philippine Sea following the monitored Chinese activities close to the country's exclusive economic zone, particularly in the Pag-asa Island.

"Any encroachment in the West Philippine Sea or reclamation on the features therein is a threat to the security of Pag-asa Island, which is part of Philippine sovereign territory," the DND said in its statement.

The DND added it also endangers the marine environment and undermines the stability of the region.

"We strongly urge China to uphold the prevailing rules-based international order and refrain from acts that will exacerbate tensions in the West Philippine Sea and the larger South China Sea," it said.

DND officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr. earlier said the defense sector will abide by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s order "not to give up a single square inch of Philippine territory."

Faustino said they are continuing to conduct routine maritime and aerial patrols within the WPS, as information gathered during these activities is being submitted to concerned authorities for appropriate action.

The Philippines, meanwhile, is not closing its doors for a "dialogue" with China to discuss the country's sovereign rights over the EEZ in the WPS.

China on Thursday said it will continue handling maritime issues with the Philippines through "friendly consultations."

In a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning affirmed China's commitment to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

"Mao said "refraining from action on the presently uninhabited islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands" was the understanding reached by China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nation countries in the declaration.

She stressed that China has always abided by the declaration, adding that the bilateral relations between her country and the Philippines will not be affected by the report which she claimed to be "completely untrue."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson was referring to a Bloomberg article that claimed China is constructing new infrastructures in unoccupied areas in the Spratlys, particularly in Eldad Reef ((Malvar Reef) in the northern Spratlys, Lankiam Cay (Panata Island), Whitsun Reef (Julian Felipe Reef) and Sandy Cay.

Earlier this week, China and the United States engaged in a word war about the alleged bullying of Chinese Coast Guards in the West Philippine Sea.

US Department of State spokesperson Ned Price called on China to recognize the arbitral ruling of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea amid reports of Chinese vessels swarming in the West Philippine Sea.

To recall, the Philippines won the arbitral case it lodged against China in 2016, an award that China continues to disregard.

On Tuesday, China retaliated by accusing the US of attempting to "stir up troubles and drive a wedge" between China and the Philippines.