(Reuters) – The Philippines has recruited “foreign forces” to patrol the South China Sea and they are causing trouble, China’s military said on Thursday, referring to joint patrols this week by Philippine and U.S. forces.
The Chinese military said it will maintain high vigilance, resolutely defend sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and resolutely safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.
“The Philippines recruited forces from outside the region to patrol (…) provoked trouble and engaged in saber-rattling, harming regional peace and stability,” said the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese Armed Forces.
Philippine officials said their military and the US launched joint patrols on Tuesday in waters near Taiwan, a democratically governed island that China claims as its own, raising the possibility of new tensions with China.
Relations between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea have soured under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as he turns to closer ties with the US, which supports the Southeast Asian nation in its maritime disputes with China.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Wednesday that China had warned the US and the Philippines over their patrols.
“China has made clear its position to the Philippines and the US that joint patrols between the Philippines and the US should not harm China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” said spokeswoman Mao Ning.