Beijing has called on the Philippines to give up "unrealistic illusions" in the South China Sea, after Manila reaffirmed that Scarborough Shoal and the Kalayaan Island Group are integral parts of the Philippine archipelago.
China's Defence Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang made the remarks during a news conference on Friday, according to an official statement. "We urge the Philippine side to give up unrealistic illusions, and stop putting on self-staged farces at sea or orchestrating propaganda," Zhang said.
His comments came a day after the Philippines' Department of National Defence posted a statement on the U.S. social media platform Facebook, saying that "China's narrative that the Philippines is a 'late claimant,' which ignores centuries of legal history and is flatly contradicted by official maps and legal documents that predate the People's Republic of China itself."
Manila also said that the scope of Philippine territories "has been defined by a series of international treaties," adding that China's Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal) and Nansha Qundao (Kalayaan Island Group) are not within its scope.
Responding to this, Zhang reiterated that China "will continue to take resolute measures to firmly safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests."
China claims sovereignty over Huangyan Dao, a territory disputed with the Philippines and known in Manila as the Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc. The area has long been one of the most contentious flashpoints in the South China Sea, a region rich in resources and vital for global trade routes.
At the same briefing, Zhang also criticised Washington over its latest support for Taiwan, saying that "playing the 'Taiwan card' is no different from playing with fire." He described the U.S. Senate's recent passage of a bill allocating $1 billion in military aid for Taiwan and recommending its participation in the next Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) as "an extremely dangerous gambling act" and warned that the U.S. "will surely pay a heavy price for it."
RIMPAC, the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise, is held biennially around the Hawaiian Islands and often draws participation from dozens of countries.
Disruptions to global energy routes have transformed energy security from an economic concern into a matter of national security, Turkish President Re...
Artificial intelligence, digital innovation and youth engagement in environmental governance took centre stage at Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 in Samark...
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire after U.S.-backed talks in Washington. The deal requires Hezbollah to halt attacks and withdra...
A series of signals from Washington, including congressional testimony, a U.S. Embassy statement and a senior diplomat's visit to Tbilisi, has given G...
Afghan and Uzbek business officials have discussed ways to expand trade, ease transit bottlenecks and address customs challenges facing traders, accor...
Energy debates usually follow a familiar script. Markets, climate, renewables, oil, gas, batteries, hydrogen, critical minerals and geopolitics dominate the conversation. One of the world's largest energy consumers is often left outside that frame: the military.
China has criticised planned maritime boundary discussions between Japan and the Philippines, arguing that the waters involved fall within an area where Beijing claims maritime rights and jurisdiction.
China and Britain sat down for a major round of talks in Beijing on Tuesday and walked away with a clear message that the two countries want a better, closer relationship and that they are actively working to build one.
A drainage ditch is rarely the beginning of an economic story. In Nanshan Village, on the outskirts of Beijing, it became exactly that.
Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought heavy rain, power cuts and transport disruption across Japan on Wednesday (3 June) as it tracked towards the greater Tokyo region.
Police officers were pelted with missiles during violent clashes at a protest near the Southampton, UK, home of convicted murderer Vickrum Digwa, as anger continued to grow over the handling of the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Albania in recent days to protest against a luxury tourism project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, and his wife Ivanka Trump.
An Iranian drone and missile attack struck Kuwait International Airport early Wednesday, injuring several people, damaging Terminal 1 and forcing flight diversions, Kuwaiti authorities said.
Armenia’s parliamentary election comes at a defining moment for the South Caucasus, a region reshaped by the Garabagh conflict and broader shifts in Russia-West relations. The outcome is increasingly seen as a signal of Armenia’s future foreign policy direction and the regional balance of power.
China has criticised planned maritime boundary discussions between Japan and the Philippines, arguing that the waters involved fall within an area where Beijing claims maritime rights and jurisdiction.
U.S. President Donald Trump will attend next month's NATO leaders' summit in Türkiye, ending weeks of uncertainty over whether he would take part in a gathering expected to focus on the future of the alliance.
All 27 European Union (EU) member countries have agreed to begin the first set of talks with Ukraine and Moldova about joining the political and economic bloc.
Germany's foreign minister Johann Wadephul has suggested that Berlin's strong backing of Ukraine and its close ties with Israel may have contributed to its failure to secure a seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 4 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment