China says open to dialogue on South China Sea

China would like to work with Malaysia to handle differences in the South China Sea through dialogue and consultation in an appropriate manner, its foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said earlier today that he had told the Chinese government that an exploration project by state energy firm Petronas in the South China Sea was within Malaysian waters, in a reference to an overlapping claim in the area by Beijing.

"China safeguards legitimate rights and interests in the South China Sea," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning said, responding to a question about Malaysia's warning of a protest note if there were "collisions" between Malaysian and Chinese vessels in the area.