China Denies Accusations Of The Minister Of Defense Of The US Et Al Regarding The Commotion Of The South China Sea

JAKARTA - China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejects baseless accusations from a number of countries regarding the situation in the South China Sea, including statements raised from the meeting of four defense ministers of the United States, Australia, Japan, and the Philippines in Kuala Lumpur on November 1.

Several countries spread false narratives about maritime issues and made baseless accusations against China. We deeply regret and strongly oppose this," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning.

In a press conference in Beijing, Thursday (6/11), Mao emphasized that conditions in the East China Sea and South China Sea have generally remained stable.

He asked countries related to respect the efforts of regional countries in resolving maritime issues through dialogue and consultation, as well as maintaining regional peace and stability.

Mao's statement was in response to the results of the meeting of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Deputy Prime Minister concurrently Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro, and Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who accused China's actions of causing instability and trying to change the status quo by coercion.

Mao also rejected the 2016 Court of Arbitration's decision to win the Philippines in the South China Sea dispute.

The arbitration verdict is just a political joke disguised as a legal process. China has never accepted or acknowledged it from the start," he stressed.

He emphasized that Asia-Pacific should be a cooperation and development area, not a geopolitical competition.

"Block politics and group confrontation will not bring peace and security to the region," he said.

Meanwhile, in a meeting in Kuala Lumpur, the four defense ministers affirmed their commitment to safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific, enforcing international law in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and strengthening defense cooperation, joint exercises, and information exchange.

During the meeting, the four defense ministers also provided their ongoing support for ASEAN's central role in shaping the region's future.

The defense ministers also conveyed their commitment to refocus on joint efforts with Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the US in preventing and preparing operations, as well as increasing coordinated defense cooperation activities.

They will also form a Cooperation Council for the Head of Indo-Pacific Defense of Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the US.