The Philippines will stick to its position on Sabina Shoal, it said on Thursday, even while exploring ways to ease tension in the area during "frank and candid" talks with China on managing disputes in the key waterway of the South China Sea.

The Philippines reaffirmed its position on Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea even as it agreed with China to explore ways to lower the tension in area, its foreign ministry said on Thursday. Manila and Beijing held another round of talks under its bilateral consultation mechanism in China on Sept 11,

China and the Philippines asserted their respective claims to a new flashpoint in the South China Sea at a meeting of diplomats on Wednesday, even as they sought ways to dial down tensions.