Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun. Photo: VCG

In response to reported remarks made by US defense chief Pete Hegseth during his visit to the Philippines that the two countries must stand shoulder to shoulder in the face of the threat represented by China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday that whatever cooperation the US and the Philippines have, it should not target or harm any third party, still less spread accusations about phantom threats to incite confrontation and heighten tensions in the region.  

"Let me stress that freedom of navigation and overflight has never had any problem in the South China Sea," Guo said. 

Throughout the years it's always been the US who has abetted its allies' provocations, falsely called China a "threat" and claimed that there's an issue with "freedom of navigation in the South China Sea," and kept deploying more and more military resource to the region and undermining its peace and stability, the spokesperson said.

Hegseth said at the presidential palace in Manila on Friday that Washington and the Philippines must stand "should to shoulder" in the face of the threat he said was represented by China, AFP reported. 

Guo also said that the US needs to get rid of its Cold War mentality, stop creating ideological confrontation, stop sowing tension in the region and discord between its countries, and stop being the disrupter and provocateur in the South China Sea. 

"We also call on the Philippines to stop creating instability with US backing, still less seek military confrontation," Guo added.

Global Times