Protesters shout slogans against the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a rally near the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Photo: VCG

China urges the US not to instigate trouble in the South China Sea or take sides on the South China Sea issue, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said in a statement released on Wednesday in regard to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's remarks on the South China Sea during his visit to Manila.

China is not the one that provoked the recent tense situation in the South China Sea, and thus the responsibility for the recent situation at sea does not lie with China, the spokesperson said, noting that China was made to take necessary steps to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in face of infringement of its rights and interests and provocation. 

We firmly oppose the groundless accusations made by Blinken regarding China's legitimate and lawful actions in the South China Sea and his thinly veiled threat to invoke the so-called Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) obligations between the Philippines and the US, the spokesperson said. 

During his visit to the Philippines for a trilateral cooperation mechanism involving the US, Japan and the Philippines, which Chinese experts believe to be a move by Washington to create an AUKUS-style clique in Asia aimed at China in the South China Sea, Blinken said that the US stands by the Philippines and stands by its ironclad defense commitments including the Mutual Defense Treaty. He added that Article IV of the treaty extends to armed attacks on the Filipino armed forces, public vessels and aircraft, including those of its coast guard anywhere in the South China Sea. 

The US is not a party to the South China Sea issue and has no right to interfere in maritime issues between China and the Philippines, the spokesperson stressed, noting that the recent tension in the South China Sea would not have occurred without the US pushing the Philippines. 

Indeed, the US admits to banding together a small number of countries to offer verbal support to the Philippines. The US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty is a vestige of the Cold War. The military cooperation between the US and the Philippines should not undermine China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, the spokesperson said. 

China urges the US not to instigate trouble in the South China Sea or take sides on the South China Sea issue. 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, the spokesperson added. 

The Chinese Foreign Ministry also reiterate China's stance on Wednesday. 

"China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are solidly grounded in international law and pose no threat to any country. What has recently escalated the situation concerning the South China Sea issue between China and the Philippines is that the latter has frequently made infringements and provocations, stirred up troubles at sea, and spread disinformation to mislead the perception of the international community," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a Wednesday briefing.

"China has firmly safeguarded its own territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and has at the same time striven to properly handle maritime disputes through dialogue and consultation with parties concerned and advance practical maritime cooperation based on sovereign equality to keep the South China Sea peaceful and stable," Lin said. 

Liu Jinsong, Director-General of the Asian Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with Ambassador of the Philippines to China Jaime A. FlorCruz on Tuesday, to exchange views on the fundamental principles and strategic direction of China-Philippines relations.

Liu expressed serious concerns and strong dissatisfaction with the Philippine side's recent negative statements regarding China, as well as issues related to Taiwan and the South China Sea, and conveyed China's firm stance. 

The Philippine envoy expressed a willingness to manage differences and promote the stabilization and improvement of bilateral relations, according to a statement on the website of China's Foreign Ministry.

Global Times