China urged the Philippines to avoid taking any action that could complicate the South China Sea situation, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said. 

Wang made the remarks after Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin posted an insulting tweet over Chinese fishing vessels' sailing into the waters of Huangyan Island. 

"The Huangyan Island is China's territory and its adjacent waters are under China's jurisdiction," said Wang. 

"China urges the Philippine side to earnestly respect China's sovereignty and jurisdiction, and stop taking actions that may complicate the situation," he said, adding that "facts have proven time and time again that megaphone diplomacy can only undermine mutual trust rather than change reality."

"We hope that certain individual from the Philippine side will mind basic manners and act in ways that suit his status," Wang stressed.

Calling China a "benefactor," Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte late on Monday denounced Locsin's rude remarks. "Just because we have a conflict with China doesn't mean to say that we have to be rude and disrespectful," the president said.

Echoing Duterte's remarks, Wang noted in his statement that the differences and disputes between the two countries on some issues should not affect the overall friendship and cooperation, which is also an important consensus reached by China and the Philippines on many occasions.

"China has always been and will remain committed to properly handling differences and advancing cooperation with the Philippines through friendly consultation, and will continue to provide assistance within its capacity to the Philippines in its efforts to fight the epidemic and resume economic development," he added.

Locsin made an apology on Tuesday in a new tweet.