China will not be provoked into war, the official PLA Daily said in a commentary on Saturday, following China’s ministry of defense’s statement on Friday, in which it denied the rumors that China was making preparations for war against the Philippines over a month-long territorial row in the South China Sea.

“Behind the intention of some individual country to intentionally create disputes and intensify the contradictions, the aggressor is most happy to see China losing its mind and launching a war in rage, ” the PLA Daily said, implying the Philippines is attempting to trigger a collision in Sino-U.S. relations and a lasting turmoil in the South China Sea.

“It has definitely underestimated Chinese government’s strategic judgement, China’s strategic diplomatic skills reacting to complex issues and Chinese people’s strategic willpower to resolutely safeguard China’s sovereignty,” it said.

"Reports that the Guangzhou Military Region, the South Sea Fleet and other units entered a state of combat readiness are not true," in a brief statement posted online, the Chinese defense ministry said on Friday.

Analysts said it could be a sign that China started turning to cool down the dispute between the South Asia country over the Huangyan Island, or Panatag Shoal as it is known by the Philippine, after the official newspapers published hard-line commentaries and the foreign ministry warned Beijing has prepared for any escalation of the stand-off last week.

Rumors followed on Chinese military-discussion forums, saying that military units had begun battle preparations and military personnel had been ordered to cancel vacations, according to the Wall Street Journal.

In Manila Friday, an anti-China protest drew about 200 demonstrators, well short of expectations. They echoed recent calls by the government of President Benigno Aquino III for China to end its claims of sovereignty over the island, Wall Street Journal said.