Update: China urges Philippines to stop colluding with other countries to escalate maritime tensions

BEIJING, July 29 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Tuesday urged the Philippines to stop colluding with other countries to exacerbate tensions on maritime issues.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks during a daily news briefing in response to a media query about the recent announcement of military cooperation between the Philippines and the United States.

According to reports, when the Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos was visiting the United States, the two sides announced the launch of military cooperation, and reiterated that the Mutual Defense Treaty is extended to the South China Sea. Marcos said that the promotion of modernizing the Philippine military is a direct response to the changing situation in the South China Sea, and that the United States deploying mid-range missiles and the two countries jointly building arsenal bases are conducive to preparations for possible future situations. Other sources said that Japan has exported six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts to the Philippines.

In response, Guo said that China has always opposed attempts to increase military alliance and engage in military deployment and operation targeting others under the pretext of the South China Sea issue.

"This will not solve any problem, still less intimidate China, and is against the common aspiration of Asia-Pacific countries of pursuing peace, development and stability," said the spokesperson.

Guo stressed that any defense or security cooperation between the Philippines and other countries should not target any third party or meddle in the South China Sea disputes, still less provoke confrontation or escalate tensions in the region.

"We urge the Philippines to stop colluding with other countries to act as scaremongers and shift blame on maritime issues, and stop inviting external forces for support, or finding reasons for voluntarily joining 'small circles.' Independence should be upheld with concrete actions, and regional peace and stability should be earnestly protected," said Guo. ■