China has committed not to occupy Pag-asa Island and continue to safeguard the traditional fishing ground in the disputed South China Sea, a Filipino diplomat here said Wednesday. Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana relayed China’s assurance after he disclosed that the country recently asked Beijing to exercise self-restraint and keep “appropriate distance” from Pag-asa Island to avoid an escalation of the conflict. “Our position is that KIG, the Kalayaan Island Group, belongs to the Philippines. The Chinese position is the opposite. They claim all of the Spratlys. So we have basic differences but we have agreed that we should deal with these differences through peaceful and diplomatic means,” he said in an interview with reporters at the Philippine embassy here.

Kabiling, G. D. (2019, April 25). China won't occupy Pag-asa Island: Beijing also reassures that traditional fishing rights of Filipino fishers will be safeguarded. Manila Bulletin, pp. 1, 11.