China slams Germany's 'unwarranted accusations' on SCS

The Chinese Embassy on Saturday accused Germany of "disregarding basic facts" and making "unwarranted accusations" after it expressed concerns over the recent incidents between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.

"German side made unwarranted accusation about China's South China Sea policy and legitimate and lawful action," said the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines in a statement.

"The Chinese side expresses strong dissatisfaction with and resolute opposition to relevant disinformation, misrepresentation and distortion of truth," it added.

China made the statement after German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, in her recent visit to the Philippines, said China's dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea have sparked concerns in Europe.

The incidents over the recent months wherein the Chinese Coast Guard has used lasers and water cannons against Philippine resupply vessels and collision incidents "are of concern for us in Europe even though we are thousands of kilometers away," Germany's top diplomat said.

Beijing, however, countered by saying that the previous maritime incidents between China and the Philippines "were not caused by China" as it took necessary measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

China also insists that the situation in the South China Sea "is generally stable."

"The headwinds encountered by peace and stability in the South China Sea are indeed the deliberate intervention of external forces intending to sow discord among regional countries," the Chinese Embassy said.

Tensions between China and Philippines have heightened in recent months as both sides trade accusations over a series of incidents in the South China Sea.

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.

According to the Chinese Embassy, the Arbitral Tribunal has "violated the principle of state consent, exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires and rendered an award in disregard of the law."

"Such an award is illegal, null and void, and completely invalid. China does not accept or recognize it, and will never accept any claim or action based on the award," it said.

Further, China said its dispute with the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea is "in essence a dispute of territorial sovereignty, which is beyond the scope of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and does not concern the interpretation or application of the UNCLOS."

China cited Article 298 of UNCLOS when it excluded issues relating to maritime boundary delimitation from the jurisdiction of a court or tribunal in 2006.

It added that the so-called "rules-based international order" is essentially a set of “house rules” established by a few western countries to contain and suppress other countries. —Jamil Santos with a report from Michaela del Callar/ VAL, GMA Integrated News