Duterte 'willing to improve ties' with Beijing

However, Li Guoqiang, deputy head of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies, said, "China should still wait and see whether the new government will come up with substantial measures accordingly."

On Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei asked countries outside the area to remain neutral and objective. They should respect efforts by the countries directly involved to resolve disputes over territorial sovereignty and maritime interests through dialogue and consultation, he said.

Hong also said Beijing was dissatisfied with Tokyo over its plan to issue a statement on the South China Sea during a G7 meeting hosted by Japan later this month.

On Monday, the spokesman for the Chinese embassy in the United States advised Washington not to become a "dangerous rock" in the region, saying it has no territorial claim in the South China Sea.

Zhu Haiquan, the embassy spokesman, made the comments in a letter titled "Provocations in the South China Sea" that was published in The Washington Post in response to an editorial by the paper on the South China Sea dispute.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn