China on Wednesday expressed willingness to discuss its maritime dispute 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 to dialogue and contact with the Philippines," China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
He made the remarks when asked about China's comment to 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" to address China's continuing aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
Wang said the recent events between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea were "caused by the deliberate infringement of China's sovereignty and provocations by the Philippines."
"The responsibility lies with the Philippines," he said. "We will resolutely protect our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests."
He added: "At the same time, maritime disputes do not represent the entirety of China-Philippines relations."
Wang said China is "hoping" the Philippines will "make the right choice, seriously honor its commitment to properly handle 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 regarding the West Philippines was after the back-to-back water cannon incidents at 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 65 diplomatic protests against China's aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.
Not us, says Teodoro
In La Union, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. refuted Beijing's allegation that the Philippines provoked trouble and increased the tension in the South China Sea.
In an interview on the sidelines of an event in the province, Teodoro lambasted China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang for his allegation that the "Philippines is heightening tensions in the SCS and is attempting to change the current status of Ren'ai Jiao (Ayungin Shoal)."
"My response to that is that only China believes in what they are saying. [In] truth and in fact, no country in the world, none, supports unequivocally their claim to the whole of the South China Sea," Teodoro said.