China hits US after defending Philippines over South China Sea claim

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday slammed the United States over its recent remark defending the Philippines against any armed attack in the South China Sea.

In the fifth year of the international arbitral ruling that favored Manila and invalidated China's massive claims, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on China to end its aggressive acts in the South China Sea. 

In response, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said America's statement was "extremely irresponsible," adding that the US is "stoking disputes" among regional countries and undermines peace and stability in the region.

"The US statement disregards the historical merits and objective facts of the South China Sea issue, violates and distorts international law, and breaks the US government's long-held public commitment of not taking a position on the South China Sea sovereignty issue," Lijian said in his regular press briefing.

China also reiterates that it disregards the arbitral tribunal as it "violated the principle of state consent," Lijian pointed out.

"The arbitration has major fallacies in fact-finding and application of law and violates UNCLOS and international law. The award of the arbitration is illegal, null and void. It is nothing more than a piece of waste paper," Lijian said.

China maintained that it advocates for friendly negotiations and consultations to settle issues in the South China Sea, Lijian explained.

Lijian also accused the American government of "illegal" intrusion in China's territorial waters in the South China Sea.

"On the opposite, the US willfully sends large-scale advanced vessels and aircraft to the South China Sea for military reconnaissance and drills and illegally intrudes into China's territorial waters and space and water and air space adjacent to islands and reefs," he said.

"Since the beginning of this year, the US side conducted close-in reconnaissance for nearly 2,000 times and over 20 large-scale military drills on the sea," Lijian added. -- BAP, GMA News