Beijing, China - Dec 19, 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of press conference, reporters
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wang Wenbin, spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (starting with shot 1):
"There have been several incidents between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, and they are entirely caused by deliberate infringement and provocation by the Philippines. The responsibility lies with the Philippine side. China firmly safeguards its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. At the same time, we believe that maritime differences are not the entirety of China-Philippines relations. China is willing to properly manage differences through dialogue and consultation with the Philippines and will not close the door to dialogue and contact with the Philippines. We hope that the Philippines will honor its commitment to properly addressing differences through dialogue and consultation, and work with China for pursuing a healthy and steady development of bilateral relations and for maintaining regional peace and stability."
3. Various of reporters at press conference

The Philippines should properly address the maritime issue in the South China Sea through dialogue, said Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin on Tuesday.

China is willing to properly manage differences through dialogue and consultation with the Philippines and will not close the door to dialogue with the Philippines, the spokesman stressed at a regular press conference at the Foreign Ministry.

"There have been several incidents between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, and they are entirely caused by deliberate infringement and provocation by the Philippines. The responsibility lies with the Philippine side. China firmly safeguards its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. At the same time, we believe that maritime differences are not the entirety of China-Philippines relations. China is willing to properly manage differences through dialogue and consultation with the Philippines and will not close the door to dialogue and contact with the Philippines. We hope that the Philippines will honor its commitment to properly addressing differences through dialogue and consultation, and work with China for pursuing a healthy and steady development of bilateral relations and for maintaining regional peace and stability," he said.

On Monday, Wang said that over the past few months, it has been the Philippines that breached the common understandings with China and heightening tensions in the South China Sea.

The Philippines should realize that tying itself to some major power and forcing China to back down on issues concerning China's core interests will lead nowhere, he said on that day.