National
flags are placed outside a room where Philippine Finance Secretary
Carlos Dominguez and China's Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng address
reporters after their meeting in Beijing, China, January 23, 2017.
REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
China and Philippines hold 'frank' talks on disputed Sabina Shoal
BEIJING,
Sept 11 (Reuters) - China's vice foreign minister and his Philippine
counterpart have had a "frank and in-depth" exchange on sea-related
issues, in particular the issue of the disputed Sabina Shoal, the
Chinese foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
During
their meeting, China reiterated its demand for the immediate withdrawal
of a Philippine vessel and vowed to "firmly uphold its sovereignty",
the ministry statement showed.
Both countries agreed to continue their dialogue through diplomatic channels.
Xianbin
Reef, also known as Sabina Shoal, is in disputed waters of the South
China Sea near the Spratly Islands, which China calls the Nansha
Islands.
China
claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea. The countries have
clashed over competing claims at several atolls in the sea, through
which $3 trillion worth of trade passes annually.
Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Kevin Liffey