Chinese embassy in PH says South China Sea situation ‘generally stable’

The Chinese Embassy in Manila on Tuesday said the situation in the South China Sea remains generally stable after a Philippine envoy criticized Beijing for its “great escalation” in the disputed waters.

“With the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea is generally stable,” the Chinese Embassy in Manila said.

“We are committed to properly handling differences in the South China Sea through dialogue and consultation,” it added.

Earlier, Philippine Ambassador to the Czech Republic Eduardo Martin Meñez said China “is not a benign, cuddly panda” but rather a “calculating and very well-coordinated security-conscious entity.”

“Credits to their security analysts, advisors, and others — they are working in concert, really, to ensure that the country dominates in the near future,” Meñez said in a discussion on the security in the Indo-Pacific region in Prague on December 17.

He said the December 12 incident in Escoda Shoal was “a great escalation” that exemplified a “persistent pattern of coercion” in the West Philippine Sea. 

Three Filipino fishermen were hurt as China fired water cannons at their boats during the incident.

In response to Meñez, the Chinese embassy pointed out that “the duty of a diplomat is to foster friendly ties between countries rather than vilify other countries, sow discord and stoke confrontation.”

“We categorically reject his narrative and will convey our concern to the [Department of Foreign Affairs],” it added.

GMA News Online reached out to the DFA for comment and will publish it once available.

Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

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."

China has refused to recognize the decision.—AOL, GMA Integrated News