China warns Philippines over provocation in disputed waters

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) - China on Thursday warned the Philippines against “any infringement or provocation” in the disputed waters, saying it could “complicate the situation at once,” after Manila held joint naval drills with Canada and Australia near the contested Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

“We ask the Philippines to immediately stop hyping up maritime issues between China and the Philippines and stop any infringement or provocation that may complicate the situation at once,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a regular news conference in Beijing.

The exercise took place Wednesday as part of this year’s Amphibious Land Operation 2025, the Philippines’ largest overseas drill, and involved three warships and military aircraft.

“China keeps demanding that the Philippines tow away the warship and restore the Ren’ai Jiao’s state of hosting no personnel or facilities,” Guo added, referring to the submerged reef known internationally as Second Thomas Shoal, or Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines, located in the Spratly Islands.

The Philippine Navy intentionally grounded a warship on the reef in 1999, requiring regular resupply missions that have long been a flashpoint in the dispute.

Guo said Manila’s “repeated infringement and provocation” had “severely infringed on China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, undermined maritime peace and stability and disrupted the political foundation between the two countries on properly handling maritime issues.”

China’s Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang also accused Manila of destabilizing the region and said “certain external countries have instigated and supported” the Philippines to “take irresponsible actions that harm the shared interests of regional countries.”

Separately, Guo reiterated Beijing’s position on Taiwan, saying: “China firmly opposes any country having diplomatic relations with Taiwan.”

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said China carried out its second joint combat readiness patrol of the month and the 30th this year on Wednesday.