The Chinese Embassy in Manila accused United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken of making “groundless accusations” concerning China’s provocative actions in the disputed South China Sea as it points to the US for instigating the recent tensions.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with President Ferdinand ‘Bonbong’ Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Also in the photo is US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson. (PPA POOL / Marianne Bermudez)

A statement by the embassy’s spokesman on Tuesday night, March 19, insisted that China wasn’t the one “that provoked the recent tense situation” in the region,” so the “responsibility for the recent situation at sea does not lie with China.”

“We firmly oppose the groundless accusations made by Secretary Blinken about China’s legitimate and lawful actions in the South China Sea and his thinly veiled threat to invoke the so-called MDT obligations,” the statement read, referring to the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), a defense agreement between Washington and Manila that can compel both countries to come to each other’s aid in case of an armed attack.

The embassy insisted that the MDT is a “vestige of the Cold War,” and that such military cooperation between the US and the Philippines should not undermine China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.

“It is exactly the US and not anyone else that’s threatening peace and stability in the South China Sea,” it added.

“The US is not a party to the South China Sea issue and has no right to interfere in the maritime issues between China and the Philippines. The recent tension in the South China Sea would not have occurred without the US egging on the Philippines.”

The embassy stressed that China was pushed “to take necessary steps to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests” because of the “infringement of our rights and interests and provocation.”

It further accused the US of “seeking freedom of rampage of its warships in the region” under the “pretext of safeguarding freedom of navigation” as it claimed that freedom of navigation in the South China Sea “has never been an issue.”

“By going out of their way and far to the doorsteps of China to bluff and stir up situation, the US warships and military aircrafts are demonstrating the true hegemon,” the statement said.

In response to Blinken’s remarks that the US has been doing “intense diplomacy” so that countries can come up with statements of support for the Philippines, the embassy said this was an admission that Washington is “banding together a small number of countries to offer verbal support to the Philippines.”

“China urges the US not to instigate trouble in the South China Sea or take sides on the South China Sea issue,” the statement read.

“China remains committed to all necessary measures in firmly safeguarding our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea.”

Blinken was in Manila for a two-day visit from March 18 to 19.

In a joint press conference with Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo, he affirmed Washington’s plan to continue supporting the Philippines so it “can be in the strongest possible position” to affirm its rights in the disputed South China Sea.

He also reaffirmed the US government’s commitment to the MDT and cited Article 4, which stated that “Each Party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes.”

Manila and Beijing have been at the forefront of the territorial disputes in the resource-rich South China Sea, with Manila being awarded a 2016 Arbitral Tribunal win.