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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH told to 'stop serving as other countries' mouthpiece'

PH told to 'stop serving as other countries' mouthpiece'

Published Mar 26, 2025 12:50 am

The Philippines must “stop serving as other countries’ mouthpiece,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said amid the upcoming visit of United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, which is expected to boost Manila’s defense modernization program to better prepare itself should there be conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region.

Guo Jiakun_PRC.jpgChinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun (Photo courtesy of Embassy of China in the Philippines)


Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun expressed concern over this week’s visit of the Pentagon chief during his regular press conference on Tuesday, March 25.

“Facts have repeatedly proven that nothing good could come out of opening the door to a predator. Those who willingly serve as chess pieces will be deserted in the end,” he said.

“Our message to some in the Philippines: stop serving as other countries’ mouthpiece and no more stunt for personal political agenda,” he added.

Guo stressed that China’s position on any military cooperation between the Philippines and the US was that it should not affect the shared region.

“Any defense or security cooperation between the Philippines and other countries should not target any third party or harm their interest, still less threaten regional peace or escalate tensions in the region,” he stated.

The spokesman made his remarks on a question about Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez’s remark that not only does Hegseth’s visit underscores the solid alliance between the two countries, but that the Philippines stands to benefit from its key allies—including the US, Japan, and Australia—in modernizing its military to better equip it for conflicts in the resource-rich region.

The South China Sea, which China claims almost in its entirety, is within the broader Indo-Pacific region.

The Philippines has been strengthening its military ties with old and new allies through military agreements and joint maritime exercises to solidify its posture in the contested waters amid Beijing’s increasingly aggressive actions.

Hegseth’s visit on March 28-29 is a prelude to US State Secretary Marco Rubio’s planned visit to Manila, as well as to President Marcos’ meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Related Tags

Indo-Pacific Region People's Republic of China South China Sea Pete Hegseth
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