Beijing has taken yet another swipe at the US by blasting Washington over its interest in the South China Sea.
The remarks came after Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a security deal with the Manila extended to attacks on the Philippine coast guard.
Blinken described US commitments concerning security were “ironclad”, adding Chinese aggression in the region triggered a wider international reaction.
China’s Embassy in the Philippines issued a statement this morning describing Beijing’s actions as both “legitimate and lawful”.
Beijing and Manila are at loggerheads over the situation
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It also accused Blinken of “ignoring the facts” and “baselessly accusing China”, adding: “[Blinken] has threatened China with the so-called US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty obligations.”
Beijing opposes the security pact between the US and the Philippines which was first introduced in 1951.
It commits Washington and Manila to support one another if there is an attack.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr last year pushed Washington to make clear the extent of that security commitment.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to members of the media before leaving CairoREUTERSBlinken yesterday stressed that the deal extended to armed attacks on the Philippine armed forces, public vessels and aircraft, and its coast guard.
Beijing stressed Washington also threatens peace and security in the region.
China also claimed the US is not a party to issues there and reserves no right to intervene in maritime issues.
The statement added: “The US keeps saying that it wants to safeguard freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, but in fact it wants to guarantee the freedom of navigation of US warships.
Tensions in the South China Sea have soared in recent years
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“The fact that US warships and planes travelled thousands of miles to China's doorstep to flaunt their might and provoke trouble is an out-and-out hegemonic activity.”
Relations between the two nations have continued to flounder in recent years.
A separate diplomatic spat broke out concerning a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
Ex-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was embroiled in a serious argument with Beijing following her visit to Taipei in August 2022.