” North Korean ally China on Tuesday called for restraint amid rising tensions on the Korean peninsula, but again declined to endorse Seoul’s claim that Pyongyang sunk one of its warships.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Beijing shares responsibility for ensuring peace on the Korean peninsula and opposes any destabilizing actions.
“China hopes all parties will stay calm and exercise restraint ... to avoid escalation,” Mr. Jiang told reporters at a regularly scheduled news conference.

[link to beta.thehindu.com]