China has warned the Philippines against its military cooperation with the United States, stressing that it will only cause tensions and puts regional peace and stability at risk.
In a press conference on Thursday (Manila time), Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin reiterated that for China, Asia-Pacific is the “common home of countries in the region.”
“Our region’s peace and stability hinges on trust, solidarity, and cooperation and requires that we, as members of this region, take our security firmly in our own hands,” Wang said.
“We would like to once again remind the relevant country in the region that pandering to forces outside the region will not bring greater security, but will cause tensions, put regional peace and stability at risk, and eventually backfire,” he added.
The statement comes at the heel of the 38th Philippine-United States Balikatan exercise kicked off with more than 17,000 Filipino and American troops – the biggest military exercise between the two countries so far.
Among the highlights of this year’s Balikatan exercises includes live fire exercises, specifically in the waters off Zambales.
Wang also pointed out that China is “gravely concerned over and strongly disapproves” of the joint statement of the US and the Philippines.
“China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and the adjacent waters. The joint statement of the US and the Philippines misrepresents and discredits the legitimate and lawful maritime law enforcement activities of the Chinese side and even makes false accusations against China,” he said.
“We strongly oppose this. The so-called arbitral award on the South China Sea gravely violates international laws, including UNCLOS. The award is illegal, null, and void. China’s position of not accepting or recognizing it is clear and firm,” he added.
On Wednesday, the Philippines and the United States’ top diplomatic and defense officials met for the third-ever 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington D.C.
The two nations issued a joint statement after saying the United States and the Philippines are calling on China to “fully comply with the final and legally binding 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea.”
“The Award, which was constituted under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, is final and legally binding on the parties, and validates the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction with respect to its EEZ and continental shelf, including maritime areas in the vicinity of Reed Bank, Mischief Reef, and Second Thomas Shoal also known in the Philippines as Recto Bank, Panganiban Reef, and Ayungin Shoal, respectively,” the two countries said.
Under the 2016 ruling of a Hague-based arbitral tribunal, the Philippines has sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea, which invalidates China’s nine-dash line claim.
Wang said Beijing is ready to work with “relevant countries” to handle maritime disputes “in a proper manner through negotiation and consultation, while resolutely protecting our territory, sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”