Beijing urges restraint in S. China Sea
China has maintained close communication with the US over the South China Sea and hopes the interactions between the two sides remain positive, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Wednesday in Beijing, ahead of the fourth mutual strategic and economic dialogue next week.
"In the three rounds of strategic consultations held so far, we have given full presentations to the US side on China's position. I hope it would help the American side to keep adopting a reasonable position," Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai said at a news briefing.
With tensions already high in the South China Sea, the Philippine foreign and defense ministers are planning to discuss an updated defense agreement with their US allies in Washington next week.