China on Thursday urged the Philippines to stop making remarks that will influence public opinion about the two-month-old standoff at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei was referring to President Benigno Aquino III's recent remarks on the dispute over the shoal which China calls Huangyan Island.

A report posted on the Chinese government's web portal Thursday night said Hong referred to reports quoting Aquino as saying Philippine Air Force planes will soon fly over the area to check the situation there.

"China hopes the Philippine side will do more to help the development of bilateral ties and refrain from stirring public opinion, so as to safeguard the recovery of bilateral ties," the report quoted Hong as saying.

The row started in early April when Philippine forces spotted Chinese fishermen gathering marine species from the area.

Before the Philippine forces could make arrests, however, they were blocked by Chinese vessels.

On Thursday, Hong claimed the Philippine warships' harassment of Chinese fishermen caused the tension.

He added the Philippines' high-profile stance on the issue continued to heighten tensions after the incident.

But tensions have eased recently, and the two sides are making efforts to repair bilateral relations, he said.

The territorial row has highlighted both China's territorial ambitions and the Philippines' growing assertiveness under President Aquino regarding its claims in the West Philippine Sea, long a hotbed of conflicting claims.

The disputed coral reef area lies 124 nautical miles from western Luzon coast. The Philippines has long considered it part of its territory based on use and has also called it Bajo de Masinloc, after the town on Zambales that claims it as part of its municipality.

Based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the shoal is well within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

Despite its being a signatory to the UNCLOS, China claims ownership of the marine area which is 470 nautical miles from its nearest Hainan province. — LBG, GMA News