China's Foreign Ministry has said the country can and will resolve the South China Sea dispute with the Philippines through diplomacy. Speaking after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's visit to China, spokesperson Lu Kang said both sides expressed the will to cooperate and manage differences.

"Regarding the South China Sea issue and the Huangyan Island fishing dispute, president Xi Jinping noted in talks with Rodrigo Duterte that both countries have customarily try to manage differences through negotiation since the establishment of bilateral ties. The accumulated wisdom should be used to pave the way for more stable bilateral relations, a sincere exchange of ideas and further cooperation," he said.