Q: It is reported that Philippine President Aquino spoke of the Huangyan Island incident in his State of the Nation Address on July 23, requesting China to respect the sovereignty of the Philippines. What is China's comment?

A: The facts and truths about the Huangyan Island incident have been clear. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is not the legal basis to determine the territorial sovereignty of the Huangyan Island and cannot change the fact that the island belongs to China. Resolute in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty, China is also committed to handling the incident through bilateral consultation. The situation off the Huangyan Island tends to relax on the whole. We hope the Philippine side can do more for further relaxation of the situation and sound development of bilateral relations.