Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan has said that he wants to enhance talks with the neighbouring countries in order to resolve conflicts.
According to the BBC, Chang said at a security forum in Beijing that China was considering opening defence hotlines with South East Asian countries.
He said that conflicts should be resolved with full negotiations and with complete respect to historical facts and international law.
The disputes are over islands in the South China Sea with four of South East Asian countries including Vietnam and Philippines.
China's military has been expanding at an increasing speed and defence spending has shot up, raising tensions with countries in the Asia Pacific region.