China Reminds US To Stop Supporting Philippine Provocations In South China Sea

China Coast Guard/PHOTO via Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - China reminds the United States to stop tolerate and support the "provocation" carried out by the Philippines.

This was conveyed by China after Deputy Foreign Minister Kurt Campbell expressed concern over Beijing's "destabilization actions in the South China Sea".

China and the Philippines recently accused each other of 'dangerous and illegal maneuvers' affecting their respective ships in the area around Second Thomas Shoal, an atoll disputed on the busy waterway.

"The United States must stop forgiveness and support the provocation and disruption of the Philippines and take practical action to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning.

The Philippines has sent a mission to supply soldiers living on old, rusty warships deliberately grounded by Manila in 1999 on the coral island to strengthen its sovereignty claim.

At routine briefings, Mao stressed that Philippines has ignored consensus with China, challenged its territory's sovereignty and integrity, and insisted on sending construction materials to the warship.

On June 17, a Philippine sailors were injured after what the Southeast Asian state military called a "deliberate high-speed strike" by the Chinese Coast Guard.

Campbell made the statement to Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu by phone on Thursday, the US State Department said.

The day before, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Philippines national security adviser Eduardo Ano discussed the same concern over China's "dangerous and escalation" actions.

The United States reaffirms its commitment to Philippine security, the White House said.