Philippines urged to make efforts to ease tensions

BEIJING - China urged on Tuesday the Philippines to make more helpful efforts to ease tensions over Huangyan Island and promote bilateral ties between the two nations.

"We are all clear about the Huangyan Island incident," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in response to a question on Philippine President Benigno Aquino's latest remarks on the incident, adding that the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea does not serve as evidence to judge to whom Huangyan Island belongs, and cannot change the fact that the island is an inherent part of China.

China claims a Philippine warship harassed 12 Chinese fishing vessels on April 10 that had sailed near Huangyan Island to seek shelter from bad weather, triggering a months-long standoff near the island.

"While the Chinese side is firm with the stance of safeguarding our territorial sovereignty, we have always been committed to resolving the issue through bilateral consultations," Hong said.

In his annual "state of the nation" address to parliament on Monday, Aquino asked the Chinese side to respect the Philippines'"rights" as he talked about the Huangyan Island incident.

Hong said tensions over Huangyan Island had generally eased recently.

"We hope that the Philippine side will make more efforts that are helpful to ease tensions over Huangyan Island and to advance the healthy development of the bilateral ties between the two nations," he added.