China warns Japan, Philippines of self-harm, taking risks on US behalf

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
29 Jun 2023 19:42

China warns Japan and the Philippines from being dragged into confrontation for the "selfish" interests of a country located outside the South China Sea region.

A Chinese Coast Guard ship with bow number 5201 deploys its crew on motor boats to monitor activities from two Philippine Coast Guard vessels near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on Sunday, April 23, 2023. (AP)

On Thursday, Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said Japan and the Philippines must refrain from making claims and carrying out actions that threaten China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights, and interests while aggravating the regional situation.

"China is a staunch defender and builder of international rule of law at sea. China has been committed to properly resolving disputes through negotiation and consultation. We urge relevant countries to stop harming China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and stop saying or doing anything that would further complicate the situation," Zhang said in a briefing.

The spokesperson emphasized that "at present, the situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea is generally stable, but a certain country out of the region, for its selfish interests, has been busy muddying the waters through military provocation and bloc confrontation, which has exacerbated regional tensions."

Zhang then warned that "countries in the East China Sea and South China Sea should refrain from bringing harm to themselves while taking risks for others."

The Chinese military will closely monitor any changes in the situation and take resolute measures to safeguard China's state sovereignty, security, and development interests, he added.

The United States, the Philippines, and Japan's security advisors met for the first time on June 16 in Tokyo, where they decided to improve their trilateral defense and security capabilities in direct provocation against China in the South and East China Seas. The parties agreed to work together economically to stave off Beijing's purported "economic coercion".

China will not compromise on Taiwan issue: Wang Yi to Blinken

China Central Television (CCTV) reported on June 19 that Chinese Central Foreign Affairs Office Director Wang Yi told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during their meeting today that Beijing will not compromise on the Taiwan issue and that the US must respect the sovereignty of China.

The CCTV added that during their meeting, Yi delved into the implications of the Taiwan issue, noting that it is out of the question for China to compromise on the matter.

He added that the US must respect the one-China principle as per the three joint US-China communiques, respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and oppose Taiwan separatism.

"On this issue, China has no room to compromise or concede," CCTV reported Wang Yi as saying.

"It is necessary to make a choice between dialogue and confrontation, cooperation or conflict," Wang Yi told Blinken during a meeting in Beijing, according to a readout from Chinese state media.

Relations between the two largest economies have deteriorated rapidly in the past years. The trade war on China, which was launched during former US President Donald Trump's term, was stretched by Biden's administration to include a military escalation against Beijing in the South China Sea, including violating the "one China" policy and deepening relations with Taiwan.

Biden's administration also launched a tech offensive against China's chip industry, bringing together its allies to join in on the efforts to curb the Asian giant's developing semiconductor sector.

The conflict between the two countries also raised concerns over a possible military clash that might lead to an all-out world war.