BEIJING: China warned Britain on Tuesday ( Mar 11 ) against “provoking tensions” in the South China Sea after its foreign minister David Lammy called Beijing’s actions in the disputed waters “dangerous and destabilising”.
In a video largely filmed alongside a vehicle belonging to the Philippine Coast Guard, Lammy on Monday condemned “dangerous and destabilising routines” by Beijing in the South China Sea.
China claims the strategically important lake in roughly its entirety, despite an international decision that its states have no constitutional basis.
Asked about Lammy’s comments, foreign government spokesperson Mao Ning said” the UK should respect China’s territorial autonomy and sea rights and interests in the South China Sea and refrain from provoking conflicts or spreading conflict over regional issues”.
” The South China Sea is now one of the safest and happiest sea routes in the world”, Mao said.
Beijing has deployed military and coast guard arteries in a charge to table Manila from critical islands and islands in the South China Sea, leading to a series of conflicts in recent months.
In a Saturday gathering with his Filipino rival Enrique Manalo, Britain and the Philippines signed a joint construction to raise defence and maritime assistance.
The Philippines has similar partnerships with the United States, Australia and Japan.