Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has issued a stern warning to China over South China Sea dispute.

Duterte warned China of a "bloody confrontation" if the People's Liberation Army (PLA) tries to invade his country's territory. "We do not want a quarrel. I would walk the extra mile to ask for peace for everybody," Duterte said. "But I am sure and I guarantee to them that if they invade us, it will be bloody and we will not give it to them easily."

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The Philippines President said on Wednesday that he wanted to resolve the territorial dispute between two countries peacefully. However, he stated that that Philippines' military should be ready to defend country's territory.

"We will not give it to them easily. It will be the bones of our soldiers, and you can include my own. We will not allow any country to bamboozle us. I will not allow it. So it's up to China," he said.

Durterte's remarks came a few hours after China hinted at the possibility of bilateral dialogue with the Philippines in the next couple of months. China's foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on Wednesday that the bilateral talks might take place "within the year."

The Philippines President has shown willingness to hold face-to-face talks with China to resolve the territorial dispute between two countries.

China and its South China Sea neighbors, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam, have been engaged in a bitter dispute over the ownership of disputed in the region. Last month, a UN-backed international arbitration tribunal dismissed China's claims over the disputed region saying that the country has no legal rights to the contested territory. 

TagsSouth China Sea, South China Sea Dispute, china, Phillippines, Rodrigo Duterte