Philippine actions in South China Sea 'extremely dangerous' —Chinese state media

BEIJING - Chinese state media accused the Philippines on Monday of repeatedly infringing on China's territory in the South China Sea, spreading false information and colluding with extraterritorial forces to cause trouble.

The Philippines has relied on US support to continually provoke China, with such "extremely dangerous" behavior seriously harming regional peace and stability, China's Communist Party mouthpiece, the People's Daily, wrote in a commentary on Monday.

The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs and a national task force handling the South China Sea did not immediately respond on Christmas Day to requests for comment on the report.

Tensions between Beijing and Manila have heightened in recent months as both sides trade accusations over a spate of run-ins in the South China Sea, including charges that China rammed a ship this month carrying the Philippine armed forces chief of staff.

China claims most of the South China Sea, parts of which are also claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and Indonesia. An international tribunal in 2016 invalidated China's claim in a ruling on a case brought by the Philippines, which Beijing rejects.

In an unusually direct warning, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said last week any miscalculation in the dispute with the Philippines would bring a resolute response from China, and called for dialogue to address "serious difficulties".

The souring of bilateral ties coincides with Manila's moves to bolster military relations with Japan and the United States, its former colonial power and defense ally of seven decades.

China expressed anger at the US this month for sending a navy ship into waters near the disputed area where China and the Philippines have had several maritime confrontations.

Washington has frequently used its defense treaty with Manila to "threaten" China, blatantly supporting Philippine violation of Chinese sovereignty and "peddling security anxieties", the People's Daily said.

That is "extremely irresponsible and dangerous", said the commentary, written under the pen name Zhong Sheng, or "Voice of China", often used to offer the newspaper's views on foreign policy matters.

Mao Ning, a foreign ministry spokesperson, said at a regular news conference on Monday: "China will not weaken in its resolve to protect its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

"That said, China's door of dialogue remains open. We are ready to work with the Philippines to properly handle maritime issues through negotiation and consultation."

Peace in South China Sea

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Dec. 17 said the Philippines will continue to counsel peace in the South China Sea, but at the same time forge strong alliances with other countries to maintain regional stability.

Marcos told Japanese media that a more assertive China posed a real challenge to its neighbors in Asia, which prompted the Philippines to seek new solutions.

He said that the Philippines will continue to forge strong alliances with “like-minded allies.”

On Dec. 10, the China Coast Guard (CCG) water cannoned Philippine vessels on a regular rotation and resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

The BRP Sierra Madre is a World War II ship grounded at the Ayungin Shoal since 1999, standing as a symbol of the Philippines’ claim to the West Philippine Sea.

The CCG also rammed one of the Philippine vessels on the said mission, the Unaizah Mae 1.

The Philippines then filed a diplomatic protest against China following the incident.

China however said CCG's moves against Philippine vessels in the disputed South China Sea were "professional" and "restrained," adding it had "lodged stern representations" with Manila. —Reuters/KG/RSJ, GMA Integrated News