China’s embassy in Manila on Friday, April 12, said the defense pact between the Philippines and the United States will not affect Beijing, which asserts that its aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea are justifiable.

“The US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty will not move us a bit from our will and resolve,” the embassy told reporters as Washington reiterated its defense commitment with the Philippines following yet another sit down between President Marcos and US President Joe Biden.

The embassy said China remains determined to uphold its claim on having territorial sovereignty and maritime rights as continues to assert its supposed ownership over the whole South China Sea.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award already ruled the Philippines’ sovereignty over its exclusive economic zone, which is called the West Philippine Sea, a part of the South China Sea.

The embassy said the US “is not a party to the South China Sea issue” and it “is not in the position of interfering in 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,” it added.

Meanwhile, in dealing with the current situation in the Ayungin Shoal, where China’s aggression continues, the embassy said “China’s position is clear-cut.”

“Before the warship is towed away, if the Philippines needs to send living necessities, out of humanitarianism, China is willing to allow it if the Philippines informs China in advance and after on-site verification is conducted,” it said, but it demanded that it “will monitor the whole process.”

“If the Philippines sends (a) large amount of construction materials to the warship and attempts to build fixed facilities and permanent outpost, China will not accept it and will resolutely stop it in accordance with law and regulations to uphold China’s sovereignty and the sanctity of the DOC,” it added.