MANILA, Philippines, May 14 (UPI) -- A recent discovery that China has built an underground nuclear submarine facility prompted minimal concern from Philippines officials Wednesday.

Philippine Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said during a regularly scheduled news conference that reports of China's underground nuclear submarine base in the South China Sea was a surprise, but not a cause for alarm. Ermita said he did not think China had plans to destabilize the region and that he hoped something positive could come from the discovery, the government of the Philippines reported.

"I don't think there should be so much concern on this," Ermita said in a statement. "After all, all countries in this part of the world are after regional peace and stability. As far as the Philippine government is concerned, all we are saying is that we will continue to maintain the best of relations with our neighboring countries, especially such a power as China."

Recent satellite images picture the construction of the base at the southern tip of Hainan Island, a southern province of China.