DIPLOMATIC officials of both the Philippines and China denied a deepening rift between the two countries, a day after Philippine President Benigno Aquino III asserted claims over the Spratly Islands.
In separate phone interviews, Chinese Embassy in Manila Spokesman Ethan Sun and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Raul Hernandez both rejected perceptions that Manila and Beijing were already drifting further apart.
Philippines is "committed to resolving it through peaceful, diplomatic and rules-based approach and to keeping communication lines open with China," he said.
Perception of a rift between China, the second-largest economy, and the Philippines were emphasized after Aquino, during his second State of the Nation Address (Sona), reiterated the country's firm stand in claiming parts of the West Philippine Sea, including some islands of Spratlys.
The "message to the world is clear: What is ours is ours," Aquino said during his second Sona.
Aquino also said that his administration is already looking at bring the dispute before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Seas (Itlos).
But according to Sun, there was nothing new to the statements of Aquino in his Sona as this has been the long stand of the Philippine government.
"We viewed it (Aquino's remarks) as a repeated claim on the Philippine.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino said on Monday 140 companies are interested in the government's energy contracting round, in which 15 oil and gas exploration contracts are to be offered to investors.
The Southeast Asian country expects to award early next year contracts for oil and gas exploration requiring total investment of at least $7.5 billion as it aims to lessen its dependence on imported fuel.
Aquino also said the Philippines, the world's largest rice buyers in recent years, would not import rice if deemed unnecessary, adding it does not want to rely on rice imports for its supply.
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