Despite the stabilization and improvement of the situation in the South China Sea, Japan provokes tension in the region, announced the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, reports Xinhua.

Chunying stated, that China takes into account the fact that the Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, after taking the office, began conducting an independent foreign policy, developing cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect for other countries. The Chinese side is willing to accept it.

She said, that thanks to the joint efforts of China and relevant ASEAN states,  the situation in South China Sea is getting stabilized. The parties managed to get back on the right track of resolving the issue through negotiations and consultations. However, the head of Japan still strongly provokes tension in the region, emphasized the Chinese diplomat.