A top Chinese military official said the United States should handle the South China Sea issue in a bigger picture of the two countries' relations and cherish the momentum of mutual trust.

Fang Fenghui, a member of China's Central Military Commission had a video call on Thursday with US's General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Fang said the two sides should respect the consensus reached by the two countries' presidents on building a relationship of non-conflict and non-antagonism. Fang stressed that it is not China who has caused the tension in the South China Sea and the US should avoid doing anything that would jeopardize relations between the two armies.

Dunford said conflicts are not in line with the two countries' common interests and the US would like to enhance dialogue with China. He hopes all parties would keep restraint to prevent the situation from escalating. A US missile destroyer entered China's territorial waters in South China Sea on Tuesday without asking for permission, which has angered the Chinese government.