China's foreign ministry has called on the Philippines to make efforts to improve soured relations through dialogue over conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular briefing on Tuesday that the responsibility for recent disputes between the two countries in the waters "lies with the Philippines."

But Wang said, "At the same time, maritime disputes do not represent the entirety of China-Philippines relations."

He said his country hopes that the Philippines will work with China to pursue the healthy and steady growth of bilateral ties and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region.

There has been increasing friction between the two countries over a series of incidents in the South China Sea since August. Their vessels clashed in the waters, and Chinese Coast Guard vessels turned water cannons on Philippine military resupply boats.

China's foreign ministry had constantly denounced the Philippines. But Beijing has recently changed its stance as Manila has increasingly become wary of China and is moving toward closer cooperation with the United States and Japan. The ministry is apparently trying to avoid a decisive confrontation with the Philippines.