China urges PH: Let’s talk instead

China called on the Philippines Wednesday to withdraw the case it filed before the five-member Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, and offered a more “peaceful” and direct negotiation to settle the maritime dispute between the two countries.

“Let’s (go) back to bilateral talks. We’ve always been pursuing a peaceful settlement to the dispute in South China Sea but it seems that China and the Philippines have different approaches. But our preference is peaceful negotiation directly between the two parties,” Zhao Jianhua, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Philippines, said on the sidelines of a business forum on Wednesday.

“I certainly hope (that the Philippines will withdraw its case). We certainly hope that sooner or later, the Philippine side will sit together with us for a peaceful negotiation. The negotiation might require patience, might take time,” the Chinese envoy added.

The Philippines filed the case in the international court in January 2013.