China on AFP's planned logistics hub: We hope some will stop stirring up trouble

China enjoys its friendship with the Philippines but is hoping that some individuals would not stir up trouble after the Armed Forces of the Philippines announced plans to put up a logistics hub in Pag-asa Island.

Hua Funying, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, made the remarks weeks after AFP chief of staff General Cirilito Sobejana said the military was considering transforming part of Spratly Islands into a hub, where boats could refuel and resupply.

Asked about the logistics hub, Hua said, "China's position on the South China Sea issue is clear, firm and consistent."

"The South China Sea issue might be an issue between China and the Philippines, but it is not insoluble," Hua said.

"China and the Philippines enjoy a friendship spanning thousands of years whereas the South China Sea issue arose only several decades ago," she added.

"We hope certain individuals will refrain from stirring up trouble on this issue," Hua said.

Last month, the Philippine military also proposed to build more structures in the West Philippine Sea to defend the country's sovereignty amid Chinese militia presence within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has criticized China after its Coast Guard's vessels challenged Philippine Coast Guard ships doing maritime drills in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.

It also lodged a diplomatic protest against China over the "belligerent actions" of the Chinese Coast Guard.

President Rodrigo Duterte, for his part, said he was only joking when he made a 2016 campaign promise to plant the Philippine flag at Spratlys Island using only a jet ski to defend the country's sovereignty. —NB, GMA News