BEIJING: China on Friday strongly criticized the United States, Japan and the Philippines and defended its actions in the South China Sea as “lawful” after US President Joe Biden hosted a trilateral summit in Washington.
Joe Biden on Thursday pledged to defend the Philippines from any attack in the South China Sea at the White House summit. The meeting took place amid repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea.
China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, brushing aside competing claims from Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines.
On Friday China responded to the joint summit in Washington, with Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning saying Beijing “firmly opposes the relevant countries manipulating bloc politics, and firmly opposes any behavior that provokes or lays plans for opposition, and harms other countries’ strategic security and interests”. “We firmly oppose engaging in closed cliques that exclude others in the region,” Mao Ning told a regular press conference.
“Japan and the Philippines can of course develop normal ties with other countries, but they should not invite factional opposition into the region, much less engage in trilateral cooperation at the cost of hurting another country’s interests. If these are not wanton smears and attacks on China, what are they?” the spokeswoman said.
“China’s actions in the East China Sea and South China Sea are lawful and appropriate, and beyond reproach,” Mao Ning added.
On Thursday Biden told Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida that the United States’ defense commitments to Japan and to the Philippines are “ironclad”.
Biden reiterated that any attack on Philippine aircraft, vessels, or armed forces would trigger the mutual defense treaty with the United States.
President Marcos, viewed as more aligned with Washington compared to his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, affirmed a shared commitment to the rules-based international order.
Prime Minister Kishida emphasized the necessity of multi-layered cooperation, emphasizing that the gathering was historic and would contribute to regional stability.
Following the summit, the three leaders released a “Joint Vision Statement” condemning China’s aggressive conduct in the South China Sea and outlining plans for joint naval training and exercises with partners like Australia.
President Biden reiterated that the defense upgrades with Japan were defensive in nature and aimed at regional stability, not directed at any specific nation.
