China has warned the US over the South China Sea issue. In a statement on Wednesday, the Chinese embassy in the Philippines warned that the United States must refrain from “stirring up trouble” or taking sides on the South China Sea issue.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced on Tuesday the extension of a security agreement with the country on the security issue of the Philippine Coast Guard. The Chinese authorities issued such a warning after that.
Tensions between the Philippines and China have risen in recent months over disputed claims in the South China Sea. In the meantime, the US representative has visited the Philippines. In a statement, the Chinese embassy in the Philippines said Chinese activities in the South China Sea were “legitimate and lawful”. The statement said Blinken has made baseless accusations against China by ignoring this fact.
The statement added that Blinken once again “threatened China by committing to the so-called US-Philippines joint military agreement.” China strongly opposes the agreement.
The Philippines and the United States agreed to a mutual defense treaty of 1951. Under that agreement, both sides have to support each other if any country is attacked. Last year, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pressed the United States to clarify the scope of that security commitment.
In a joint press conference with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo on Tuesday, Blinken said the United States remains committed to the mutual defense agreement and strong defense commitment with the Philippines. The agreement extends to armed attacks on the Armed Forces of the Philippines, government ships and aircraft, and the country’s coast guard.
China called Blinken’s announcement a threat to the peace and stability of the South China Sea. The country said that it is not the US’s job to bother with the issues in the region and that they have no right to interfere in the maritime issues of the Philippines and China.
