China on Wednesday expressed its openness to discuss maritime disputes with the Philippines through a dialogue amid the escalating tension in the West Philippine Sea.
"We stand ready to properly handle disputes through dialogue and consultation with the Philippines and will not close our door of dialogue and contact with the Philippines," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
He issued the remarks when asked about China's comment on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s statement that Manila's diplomatic efforts with Beijing were headed "in a poor direction."
Marcos highlighted the need for a "paradigm shift" in addressing China's continuous aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
Wang stressed that the recent events between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea are "caused by deliberate infringement of China's sovereignty and the provocations of the Philippines."
"The responsibility lies with the Philippines," he said. "We will resolutely protect our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests."
He noted that China will continue to protect its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the area.
"At the same time, maritime disputes do not represent the entirety of China-Philippines relations," he stressed.
Wang said China is "hoping" that the Philippines will "make the right choice, seriously honor its commitment of properly handling disputes through dialogue and consultation and work with China to pursue the healthy and steady growth of bilateral ties and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region."
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippines and China's last dialogue about the West Philippines was after the back-to-back water cannon incident in Scarborough Shoal and Ayungin Shoal.
"The last dialogue with China about the WPS was when the Philippines through our Embassy in Beijing made a demarche following the 9 December Bajo de Masinloc incident and the 10 December Ayungin Shoal incident," DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza told reporters in a text message.
Since the beginning of the year, the department said the country has lodged a total of 65 diplomatic protests against China's aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.