China is hoping that the Philippines will resist being taken benefit of and “dragged into trouble waters.”
The Chinese embassy in Manila issued the assertion on Thursday hours after US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Camp Aguinaldo stated the Philippines and the US have reaffirmed their dedication to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.
In a joint press convention with Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Austin stated these actions had been necessary as, “China continues to advance their illegitimate claims in the West Philippines Sea.”
A Chinese embassy spokesman stated Austin “smeared” China on the difficulty of the South China Sea “to advance the anti-China political agenda of the US.”
“Such moves contradict the common aspiration of regional countries to seek peace, cooperation and development, and run counter to the common aspiration of the Filipino people to pursue sound economic recovery and a better life in cooperation with China,” the embassy.
“It is hoped that the Philippine side stays vigilant and resists from being taken advantage of and dragged into trouble waters,” it added.
The embassy stated China held that the “defense and security cooperation” between international locations needs to be conducive to regional peace and stability.
It stated protection cooperation should “not target against any third party, even less to harm the interests of a third party.”
“The United States, out of its self interests and zero-sum game mentality, continues to step up military posture in this region. Its actions escalate regional tension and undermine regional peace and stability,” the embassy stated.
The Department of National Defense additionally introduced that the designation of 4 new places for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the US throughout Austin’s go to.
Austin arrived within the Philippines on Tuesday evening.
He paid a courtesy name on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. along with different officers on Thursday. —NB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
