China has blamed the US for the Philippines actions in the West Philippine Sea that Beijing described as infringing and provocative.
Mao Ning, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said that the Philippines’ supposed “infringement and provocation at Ren’ai Jiao have been emboldened and supported by the US’ connivance and support.”
Ning was reacting to the recent Philippines’ resupply mission to the beached vessel in the Ayungin Shoal (Ren'ai Jiao), which had led to tension after Chinese vessels blocked the path of a Philippine boat that caused a collision.
The Philippines was operating within its exclusive economic zone, which China claims to be its own "geographically, economically, politically and historically."
Ning claimed that since the beginning of the year, US "has been blatantly emboldening the Philippines' acts of infringing" upon its sovereignty and backing the latter's attempts to repair the grounded BRP Sierra Madre.
"The US even sent over military aircraft and vessels to assist and support the Philippines, and repeatedly sought to threaten China by citing the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty," she said in her press briefing Monday.
"What the US does has considerably bolstered the Philippines as it infringes upon China's sovereignty and makes provocation at Ren'ai Jiao and had egregious impacts," she added.
Ning asserted that the sea dispute is a bilateral issue between the Philippines and China, and that the "US has no place in it."
"China has firm resolve and will in safeguarding its lawful rights and the US' attempt is doomed to fail," Ning said.
She said US' backing of the Philippines, which is done for its supposed "selfish geopolitical interests," is jeopardizing regional peace and stability.
She said it "is quite clear to countries in the region," although China's neighboring countries of Japan and South Korea already accused Beijing of threatening the order in the Indo-Pacific.
Ning told the Philippines that China has its supposed rights to take measures to protect its purported sovereignty over the whole South China Sea as she noted that the Philippines kept on infringing upon its waters.
"The US State Department’s statement goes against the spirit of international law including the UNCLOS. In disregard of facts, it made baseless attacks against China’s legitimate and lawful law enforcement activities," she said.
"It’s a sinister attempt to endorse the Philippines’ acts of infringement and provocation. We deplore and reject it," she added.