Philippines not provoking conflict in South China Sea — AFP spox

The Philippines is not provoking conflict in the South China Sea, the country's military spokesperson said on Tuesday, in response to China's accusation that Manila is encroaching on Beijing's territory.

"[The] Philippines is not provoking conflict. We follow international law and we are only implementing our domestic law," Armed Forces spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar told state-run broadcaster PTV.

Aguilar said the Philippines is not conducting activities that will put vessels and seafarers in danger, and instead accused China of performing dangerous maneuvers that sometimes result in collisions at sea.

"They are the ones committing all the violations," Aguilar said, pointing out that the Philippines was just conducting activities within its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone without endangering other countries passing the area.

For him, it was China who was conducting shadowing activities, dangerous maneuvers, and water cannon attacks, as well as causing collisions.

Earlier, Chinese state media accused the Philippines of repeatedly infringing on China's territory in the South China Sea, spreading false information and colluding with extraterritorial forces to cause trouble.

The Philippines has relied on US support to continually provoke China, with such "extremely dangerous" behavior seriously harming regional peace and stability, China's Communist Party mouthpiece, the People's Daily, wrote in a commentary on Monday.

Aguilar said many countries are siding with the Philippines because they acknowledge that the concern of the country is valid and it can help strengthen the implementation of international law.

“This is the only way to peacefully resolve maritime disputes,” Aguilar said.

At a regular briefing in Beijing, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry reiterated that recent events were "entirely" due to the Philippines changing its position, walking back on its commitments and "deliberately" causing provocation.

"We hope that the Philippine side will make a sensible choice, return to the right track of properly resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, and work with China to manage the maritime situation," Mao Ning said.

The comment came in response to a query whether China had a limit regarding the Philippine comments and activities.

Tensions

Tensions between Beijing and Manila have heightened in recent months as both sides trade accusations over a spate of run-ins in the South China Sea, including charges that China rammed a ship this month carrying Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner Jr.

China claims most of the South China Sea, parts of which are also claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and Indonesia. An international tribunal in 2016 invalidated China's claim in a ruling on a case brought by the Philippines, which Beijing rejects.

The Philippines includes areas of the South China Sea that falls within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf as part of the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines regularly deploys resupply missions for Filipino soldiers living aboard an aging warship deliberately run aground in Ayungin Shoal in 1999 to protect Manila's maritime claims. — Reuters with Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA Integrated News