China puts ties before Spratlys

China puts ties before Spratlys

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): China on Tuesday assured its Asian
neighbors that it will not allow the Spratlys issue to harm
diplomatic ties.

"We won't let the problem to affect bilateral relationship
with Malaysia, the Philippines or other countries," said Guan
Dengming, China's ambassador to Malaysia.

Guan stressed that China hopes the Spratly dispute should be
solved through bilateral consultation between the affected
countries only.

China shared Malaysia's stand which opposed the interference
of third parties in solving the dispute over the overlapping
claims to the Spratly Islands, he said.