Philippines sows discord in South China Sea and undermines regional well-being: Defense Spokesperson

BEIJING, Nov. 15 -- "We require the Philippine side to immediately stop spreading false narratives, refrain from any unilateral action that may expand and complicate disputes, and return to the right track of settlement through dialogue and negotiation," said a Chinese defense spokesperson on Friday.

Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in responding to a media query about a recent claim by the Philippine Navy Spokesperson.

According to media reports, the Philippine side claimed that joint naval exercises held frequently by the Philippines, the US and other Western powers were helping deter the "aggressive" Chinese actions in the South China Sea. The Philippine government signed into law the so-called Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, claiming that it was committed to "rules-based international order".

Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang said that the Philippine side, in collusion with external countries, carries out frequent military exercises in the South China Sea to sow discords and provoke confrontation. Such actions disrupt peace and stability in the South China Sea and undermine the interests and well-being of people in the region.

"The Philippine side, by making claims to China's Huangyan Dao, most islands and reefs in the South China Sea and relevant bodies of water in its laws, attempts to substantiate the illegal arbitral award on the South China Sea through domestic legislation," said the spokesperson, pointing out that such act has severely violates China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea and harm other countries' navigation rights.

"The Chinese side firmly opposes this," he said.

"I want to emphasize that the Asia-Pacific welcomes those who share the pursuit of peaceful development, not those who create nothing but troubles and conflicts," said the spokesperson.

He stressed that the Chinese military will take strong and resolute measures to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, counter infringements and provocations, and preserve peace and stability in the South China Sea.