BEIJING: Facts have proven that allowing external forces to meddle in regional affairs and deliberately hyping up maritime disputes will only reduce the Philippines to a pawn manipulated by others, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Wednesday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during his meeting with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro in Manila, the Philippines.
The 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings are being held in Manila, Philippines. The series of events drew particular attention as Manila attempted to seize the diplomatic spotlight with its latest provocation infringement near China’s Ren’ai Jiao. Chinese experts noted that as ASEAN’s rotating chair for this year, Manila’s relevant moves mismatch its status, adding that at successive ASEAN diplomatic gatherings, a handful of countries keep hyping South China Sea issue with similar tactics in a bid to undermine China-ASEAN relations.
The China-Philippines relations now stand at a crossroads, and it falls to the Philippine side to make correct, rational decisions about the path ahead, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang said on Wednesday.
On the eve of China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the Philippines deliberately provoked an incident in the South China Sea. On Monday, as the China Coast Guard conducted routine patrols in waters adjacent to Ren’ai Jiao, crew members from rubber boats dispatched by the Philippines’ illegally grounded vessel assaulted Chinese law-enforcement officers using paddles, long poles and other tools. Chinese side issued repeated verbal warnings and took countermeasures in response. The US subsequently made groundless accusations that China had acted provocatively and taken “dangerous and aggressive” moves against the Philippine personnel.
Earlier this month, the Philippines, in collusion with 13 external countries including the US, hyped the 10th anniversary of the illegal “South China Sea arbitration award.”
When commenting on Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s concern on Tuesday over China’s conducts in the South China Sea, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian pointed out that relevant countries turned a blind eye to the sheer facts of the Philippines’ infringement activities and provocations, made groundless accusations against China, and rehashed “the South China Sea Arbitral Award,” which is illegal, null and void.
Relevant countries are not parties in the South China Sea, and are in no position to interfere in the maritime issues between countries concerned. Apparently, whenever something happens at sea, the same few countries immediately point their fingers at China regardless of who exactly is at fault, Lin added.
According to Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, at successive ASEAN diplomatic gatherings, a handful of countries keep hyping South China Sea issue with similar tactics in a bid to undermine China-ASEAN relations. Certain non-regional nations also attempt to exploit the South China Sea issue to contain China.
“As ASEAN’s rotating chair for this year, Manila’s relevant moves mismatch its status,” said Xu, “By roping in outside forces to stir up trouble in the South China Sea and stoking bloc confrontation, the Philippines runs counter to ASEAN’s collective interests.” –The Daily Mail-Global Times news exchange item
