Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda. 蜜桃工作室 file photo
MANILA, Philippines鈥擳he Philippines, which has been engaged in an ongoing spat with China over conflicting claims to the Spratlys Islands, on Friday called on all claimants to put a halt to 鈥渋nflammatory statements鈥�.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Philippines was 鈥渃ommitted to dialogue with other claimants鈥� after earlier accusations of Chinese intimidation in the South China Sea.
鈥淲e call on all parties to refrain from inflammatory statements that would make it more difficult to reach a mutually agreeable solution,鈥� Lacierda said.
鈥淚t is better for the parties to talk away from the cameras so that we could have a peaceful dialogue,鈥� he told reporters.
In the past two weeks, the Philippines has publicly accused Chinese forces of being behind seven confrontations with Filipinos in the Spratlys in less than four months.
However, Chinese ambassador Liu Jianchao said the reported incidents were mere 鈥渞umors鈥� or exaggeration, even as he asserted China鈥檚 claim to the reputedly oil-rich Spratlys island chain.
The islands are claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Lacierda鈥檚 statements came before Vietnam announced it would conduct a live-fire drill in the South China Sea next week, raising tensions further.