Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized that the United States (US) has no right to interfere in maritime issues in the South China Sea.
“The US is not a party to the South China Sea issue and has no right to interfere in maritime issues between China and the Philippines,” Lin Jian said when delivering a statement to the media in Beijing, China on Tuesday (19/3).
The statement was made in response to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s statement that Washington is committed to assisting the Philippines’ defense if the Philippines comes under attack under the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.
Blinken made the remarks during a joint press conference with Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo in Manila, Philippines on Tuesday (19/3). These include attacks on armed forces, public ships and aircraft, and coast guard vessels throughout the waters of the South China Sea.
“Military cooperation between the US and the Philippines should not undermine China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, nor should it be used to support the Philippines’ illegal claims,” Lin Jian added.
China, Lin Jian said, will continue to take necessary measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty.
“Also to safeguard China’s maritime rights and interests and uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Lin Jian said.
During the press conference, Foreign Minister Blinken said the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty obliges Washington to defend the Philippines if the island nation’s territory is attacked.
The same applies if Philippine waters, which include parts of the South China Sea, are also attempted to be seized by another country.
On March 5, 2024 there was an incident where the Philippine coast guard ship, BRP Sindangan, and two ships that were to deliver replacement soldiers and logistics to the Second Thomas reef cluster were intercepted by Chinese coast guard ships and Chinese maritime militia vessels.
The Philippine Navy said the Chinese vessels fired water cannons and made dangerous maneuvers resulting in a collision that left four personnel on one of the Philippine vessels injured.
The Chinese government claims to have sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the so-called “Nanhai Zhudao” archipelago in the South China Sea consisting of Dongsha Qundao, Xisha Qundao, Zhongsha Qundao and Nansha Qundao or better known as the Pratas Islands, Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands and Macclesfield Bank area.
However, the Philippines has stationed the warship BRP Sierra Madre as a “floating base” for the Philippine coast guard on these reefs since 1999.
Currently, China and ASEAN are still negotiating the South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC).
During Indonesia’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2023, the COC negotiations have reached the “second reading” stage.
The first-of-its-kind guidelines summarize the ASEAN-China aspiration to complete the CoC in three years or less through intensive discussion of pending issues.