MANILA: The Philippine defence minister rebuked China on Wednesday (Dec 20) for accusing his country of provoking tension and stirring trouble in the South China Sea, saying only Beijing believed what it was saying.
“Truth and in fact, no country in the world, none, supports unequivocally their claim to the whole of South China Sea,” Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said as both nations have exchanged accusations over recent collisions in the waterway.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than US$3 trillion of commercial shipping annually, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China’s claims had no legal basis, a ruling the United States supports but Beijing rejects.
There was no immediate comment from the Chinese Embassy in Manila.
More than a week ago, Manila and Beijing traded accusations over a collision of their vessels in the South China Sea, with the latter saying the incidents were “entirely caused” by the Philippines.