DFA: China a friend of the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday reiterated that the Philippine government will continue to seek diplomatic solutions to resolve the Scarborough standoff despite China's rejection to settle the issue in the international court.

"China is a close neighbor, China is a friend of our country," Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, spokesperson of the DFA, said in a press conference.

The Philippines is appealing to China to bring the dispute before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), but China rejected the offer.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said Wednesday that China has evidence to prove its ownership of the shoal, where military vessels of both countries have been facing off since last week.

"We tell them that this is ours and our position is that this is an integral part of Philippine territory and what they're doing was illegal," Hernandez said.

The Philippines said the shoal is within the country's 230-mile (370-kilometer) exclusive economic zone that is recognized under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Hernandez said the Philippines is committed to the track of negotiations and it is willing to wait for a positive response from China.

"We're committed not to aggravate tension. While we're talking, we want that area to be peaceful and stable," he said.

On April 10, two Chinese surveillance ships prevented the crew of Philippine Navy warship BRP Gregorio del Pilar from arresting Chinese fishermen found poaching in Scarborough Shoal.

The Philippine Navy ship later withdrew and was replaced by the smaller and lightly armed coast guard vessel BRP Pampanga.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III earlier said the Philippines will not start a war with China as American and Philippine troops kicked off the annual "war games" Balikatan Exercises in Palawan province, near the disputed territory.