By Laurie Chen
BEIJING (Reuters) -China on Thursday stated it is not going to flip a blind eye to repeated “provocations and harassment” by the Philippines, amid heightened tensions over a spate of run-ins within the South China Sea.
Manila earlier this month accused the Chinese language coastguard and maritime militia of repeatedly firing water cannons at its resupply boats, inflicting “critical engine injury” to 1, and “intentionally” ramming one other.
Calling the accusations “purely false hype,” Wu Qian, a defence ministry spokesperson, stated the Philippine aspect insisted on sending vessels to “intrude into” waters close to a disputed shoal and “proactively rammed” a Chinese language Coast Guard vessel.
At a information convention, Wu stated the China Coast Guard took essential enforcement measures which had been justified and legit.
“China is at all times dedicated to resolving variations by dialogue and session and making joint efforts to keep up maritime stability, however we is not going to flip a blind eye to the Philippine’s repeated provocations and harassment,” Wu stated.
A Philippine navy spokesperson stated earlier this week the nation was not upsetting battle within the South China Sea, after Chinese language state media accused Manila of counting on U.S. help to repeatedly antagonize China.
Relations soured between the 2 neighbours over the South China Sea underneath Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, with Manila pivoting again to america, which helps the Southeast Asian nation in its maritime disputes with China.
“We urge the U.S. to instantly cease meddling within the South China Sea difficulty, cease emboldening and supporting Philippine infringement and provocation, and safeguard regional safety with concrete actions,” Wu stated on the information convention.
(Reporting by Laurie Chen, Ella Cao and Ryan Woo; Modifying by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Christina Fincher)
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