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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider China accuses US as behind South China Sea tension

China accuses US as behind South China Sea tension

Published Mar 7, 2024 11:16 am

China, which has been violating international law by infringing upon the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), has accused the United States of being behind the tension in the South China Sea.

Mao Ning, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, on Wednesday, March 7, asked “who is the trouble-maker making provocation” behind China’s harassment of Filipino vessels as well as “who breaks international law and endangers peace and stability in the South China Sea?”

She claimed that it is "crystal clear" that the US is the one creating tension in the waters by using the Philippines as a "pawn to destabilize the South China Sea."

"The US Department of State who disregards the fact and confuses right with wrong has made baseless attacks against China’s legitimate and lawful actions to safeguard our rights,” Mao said.

Videos taken in the West Philippine Sea, a part of the South China Sea, showed China Coast Guard blocking the path of Philippine vessels and attacking the latter with a water canon as the latter were traversing the Philippine waters.

The West Philippine Sea is part of the country’s EEZ, as affirmed by United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling; but China continues its illegal and unilateral claim over it, arguing it is based on history.

“It has arbitrarily threatened China by resorting to the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty to embolden the Philippines and endorse its acts of infringement and provocation,” she added.

Mao said the West Philippine Sea is “a bilateral issue between China and the Philippines.”

The Philippines had complained that the direct line between the two governments, which was recently established to improve bilateral relations of both sides, did not work when it was needed. "The US or any third party should not exploit the issue to sow discord, still less make interventions," she said.

"The Philippines also needs to refrain from being manipulated by the US. Lessons from history tell us that a pawn will only end up being abandoned," she added.

Related Tags

Washington mao ning United States South China Sea
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