DFA to Wang Yi: PH an independent state, actions not 'staged' by other countries

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expressed opposition Monday to the recent remarks made by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that the incidents in the South China Sea were ''mere theatre'' supposedly staged under the direction of other nations.

''The Philippines disagrees with the recent remarks of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi characterizing the developments and incidents in the South China Sea as mere theatre staged under the direction of other countries,'' the DFA said in a statement.

It said China should recognize that the Philippines has been an independent and sovereign state ''whose actions and decisions are driven entirely by national interest and the interests and well-being of the Filipino people.'' 

''No creative analogy or play of words will mask the real issue, which is China’s refusal to abide by international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, and the adverse effects of China’s disregard for the rules-based international order on Filipino communities genuinely affected by China’s illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive behavior at sea,'' the DFA said.

It also called on other nations to be circumspect and to avoid actions and words that only contribute to tensions in the region. 

China has compared the South China Sea dispute with the Philippines to a “shadow play” and warned that “those acting as others’ chess pieces are bound to be discarded.”

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

However, Beijing has since ignored the ruling as it continues its hostile actions in the region.

Meanwhile, Philippine allies will take measures if China tries to restrict freedom of flights in the region, according to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in an Associated Press (AP) report.

Teodoro had described Beijing's growing aggression as "the greatest external threat" to the country's national security.—Anna Felicia Bajo/AOL, GMA Integrated News