Beijing warns neighbours of US ‘geopolitical self-interest’ in South China Sea - South China Morning Post

It also took aim at the United States, saying the country had played “an extremely dishonourable role” by supporting Manila.

“The United States, out of geopolitical self-interest, has played an extremely dishonourable role by supporting and cooperating with the Philippine side’s abusive acts and using the South China Sea issue to provoke tensions between China and regional countries.

“At present, it is crystal clear who the Philippine foreign policy and its maritime operations serve … Regional countries should remain highly vigilant in this regard and firmly hold the leading role of regional peace and stability in their own hands.”

Beijing said it was willing to continue to cooperate with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), including the Philippines, to manage differences and deepen maritime cooperation.

“With the joint efforts of China and Asean countries, the situation in the South China Sea has remained generally stable. The freedom of navigation and overflight enjoyed by all countries in accordance with the law poses no problem,” it added.

02:16

Defence ministers from China and US meet on sidelines of Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore

Defence ministers from China and US meet on sidelines of Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore

In his speech at the opening of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Marcos stressed the importance of upholding international law in asserting Manila’s claims in the South China Sea and referred to a “binding” 2016 ruling by a tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which rejected Beijing’s territorial claims over the waters.

“Any effort to resolve maritime differences in the East China Sea and the South China Sea must be anchored in international law,” Marcos said in the speech, adding that “we must … respect legally settled rights”.

China views the international tribunal’s ruling as illegal and has argued that Manila’s “unilateral initiation of international arbitration” without Beijing’s consent “violated international law”.

“China did not accept or participate in the South China Sea arbitration case … nor accept any claims or actions based on the ruling. China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea will not be affected by the ruling under any circumstances,” the ministry said.

China claims most of the South China Sea, but the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have competing territorial claims over the resource-rich waterway.

Since Marcos took office two years ago, the Philippines has been the most assertive country in the region in countering Beijing’s territorial claims in the disputed waters.

Despite not having any territorial claims in the South China Sea, Washington is committed to upholding freedom of navigation in the waters and supporting its Southeast Asian allies, including the Philippines.

In his meeting with US counterpart Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun accused the US of endangering security in the region with its support of the Philippines.

He said US military activities in the disputed Second Thomas Shoal – known as Renai Jiao in Chinese and Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines – and its deployment of a missile system in the Philippines were “a real threat to regional security”.

Austin, meanwhile, underscored the “importance of respect for high-seas freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea”, according to a Pentagon statement.

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2024-06-03 10:48:49Z
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