The Philippines says it plans to submit its dispute with China over waters around the Spratly Islands to a United Nations tribunal.

Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario told reporters in Manila Monday that he informed his Chinese counterpart of the plan during weekend meetings in Beijing. He said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi did not respond directly to the proposal to go to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, but indicated China prefers to deal with the dispute on a bilateral basis.

Del Rosario said he also asked for an end to recent actions by Chinese naval vessels in areas the Philippines claims as part of its exclusive economic zone. He said the Chinese do not consider the incidents as incursions because they say the area belongs to them.

Despite their differences, del Rosario said both countries agreed they want to resolve the issue peacefully.

Longstanding territorial disputes in the South China Sea have become increasingly tense in recent months as countries step up exploration for oil and gas beneath the seabed. Both the Philippines and Vietnam have complained of Chinese interference with exploration in waters off their shores.

The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all claim exclusive rights to develop resources off their shores under the international Law of the Sea. China and Taiwan both claim sovereignty over virtually the entire South China Sea based in part on a centuries-old Chinese map.