China on Friday made a fresh tirade against the US regarding its relationship with the Philippines by saying the Western giant only advances its "self-interests" and "zero-sum mentality" to provoke a new cold war in the Indo-Pacific Region.
Beijing also accused Washington of endangering regional peace and stability by strengthening its military cooperation with Manila through establishing more Enhanced Defense Security Agreement (EDCA) sites.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila made the statement posted on its Twitter account on Friday when US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland supposedly discredited the Philippines-China economic and trade cooperation during her recent visit to Manila.
In the statement, the embassy defended the Philippines-China economic relationship by citing President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s state visit to China that yielded "productive results" through 14 agreements in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, finance, customs, e-commerce and tourism, among others.
"Since the state visit many Chinese business delegations are coming to the Philippines, reaching extensive agreements on expanding trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, demonstrating the huge potential and broad prospects of China-Philippines practical cooperation," it said.
Then, it questioned the US military cooperation with the Philippines because "some Americans claim that the four additional military sites in the Philippines to which US forces would have access under the EDCA would bring 'economic opportunities, jobs' to their host communities, and discredit China-Philippines economic cooperation at the same time."
According to the embassy, such a claim is in "total ignorance of the Philippine people's pursuit of peace, cooperation, and development as well as China-Philippines helping each other in developing economy, improving people's livelihood, and increasing employment."
"Creating economic opportunities and jobs through military cooperation is tantamount to quenching thirst with poison and gouging flesh to heal wounds," it said.
The embassy proceeded to criticize that such cooperation "will seriously endanger regional peace and stability and drag the Philippines into the abyss of geopolitical strife and damage its economic development at the end of the day."
"We hope that the Philippine people can tell the selfish interests and zero-sum mentality of the United States to provoke a new cold war in this region," the embassy said amid China's aggressive and incursive activities in the Philippine waters and in the high seas.
"History will judge who is the reliable partner of the Philippines for mutual assistance and common development, and who is a passer-by that instigates and fans discordance in this region," it added.
Asjed by reporters questions about its comments on various issues, including its coast guard and militia's presence in the Philippine waters, the embassy only broke its silence and issued a statement after Nuland's remark.
Amid its continuous activities that have been the subject of diplomatic protests filed by the Philippines, the Chinese Embassy in Manila's last statement was made in early February, when its coast guard pointed a military-grade laser at Philippine Coast Guard ship on resupply mission off Ayungin Shoal.