Philippines says no war with China over South China Sea

China is willing to push its bilateral ties with the Philippines back to healthy development with the new government, after the Philippine president-elect said on Tuesday that the country's territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea is no reason to go to war with China.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Wednesday, "to properly handle relevant issues between Beijing and Manila, and to push bilateral relationship back to the track of healthy development conform to the fundamental interests of both countries and their people."

"China is willing to work together with the new government of the Philippines for this end," said Hua at a press conference.

According to the Manila Times,Rodrigo Duterte made his policy clear during a speech at a business forum against further fanning the conflict over such a little issue as the Huangyan Island.

Duterte, who will take office on June 30, explained that he will not go to war because of this, and he will wait for the result of an arbitration unilaterally launched by the Philippines against China before deciding on his next move.

China-Philppines relationship worsened in 2012 when the Philippines claimed sovereignty over China's Huangyan Island in the South China Sea.

Bilateral ties hit further turbulence in 2013 after Manila initiated an arbitration case against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague to challenge China's sovereignty in the South China Sea.