TAHASANG inihayag ng China na ang Estados Unidos ay walang karapatang makisangkot sa mga problema sa pagitan ng China at Pilipinas, partikular sa sigalot sa West Philippine Sea.

“The US is not a party to the South China Sea issue and has no right to interfere in the issue between China and the Philippines. The US defense commitment to the Philippines should not undermine China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, nor should it support the illegal claims of the Philippines,” pahayag ng Chinese foreign ministry.

Ayon kay Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning, ang U.S. ay hindi partido sa isyu ng West Philippine Sea at hindi na dapat nakikialam.

Mismong si U.S. President Joe Biden kamakailan lamang sa White House, ay muling inulit na ang pangako ng Amerika sa pagtatanggol sa Pilipinas ay ‘iron clad’ o nananatiling matatag.

Ito’y matapos akusahan ng China ang Pilipinas ukol sa mapanganib at labag sa batas na mga aksyon sa West Philippine Sea.

Ang China at Pilipinas kamakailan ay nagkaroon ng panibagong insidente kung saan nagkabanggaan ang isang Chinese at Filipino vessel sa pagsasagawa ng resupply mission ng Pilipinas sa BRP Sierra Madre sa Ayungin Shoal.

“The US Embassy in the Philippines, in disregard of facts, made baseless attacks against China’s legitimate and lawful law enforcement activities to safeguard our rights at Ren’ai Jiao in China’s Nansha Qundao in the past few days. The statements and remarks of the US Embassy go against the spirit of international law including the UNCLOS. It’s a sinister attempt to endorse the Philippines’ acts of infringement and provocation. We deplore and reject it,” ayon sa inilabas na pahayag ng embahada ng Tsina.

“The escalation of tension in the South China Sea has been inflated by the US actions. Since the beginning of this year, the US has been blatantly emboldening the Philippines’ acts of infringing upon China’s sovereignty and inciting and supporting the Philippines’ attempts to repair and reinforce its warship that was deliberately ‘grounded’ on Ren’ai Jiao,” akusa pa ng Chinese Embassy.

(JESSE KABEL RUIZ)