China lashes out at Philippines'playing up "China threat"

A Foreign Ministry spokesperson criticized remarks by a top Philippine military official as playing up the fallacy of the so-called "China threat" on Friday.

On Tuesday, a U.S. official said the Pentagon is considering sending U.S. military aircraft and ships to "assert freedom of navigation" around Chinese-made artificial islands in the South China Sea.

Philippine military chief Gregorio Pio Catapang said the Philippines welcomes the possible U.S. move on Thursday.

Catapang said he was also not discounting the possibility of Philippine troops joining their American counterparts in the South China Sea mission.

"We will focus our attention in developing Ulugan Bay and the naval base in Palawan so that when the (U.S.) patrol comes...they have a place to dock," Catapang said.

The Philippines ignores the common interests of countries in the region and by continuously taking provocative actions that complicate and escalate the disputes, said spokesperson Hua Chunying at a routine press briefing.

Hua said the Philippines is chiming in with the U.S. to play up the fallacy of the so-called "China threat" and create tensions in the South China Sea.

Currently, the overall situation in the South China Sea is stable, she said, adding China is working with ASEAN nations to address the issue through a "dual track" approach and will safeguard the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

According to the "dual track" approach, the disputes should be resolved peacefully through friendly negotiations by the countries directly concerned, while peace and stability in the South China Sea should be jointly maintained by China and ASEAN.

By using a Chinese idiom "fox seeking power by riding the back of the tiger", Hua criticized the Philippines' drawing support from the U.S. on the South China Sea issue.

China will continue to firmly safeguard its sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, said the spokesperson. Endi