China warned countries around the South China Sea to be skeptical of America’s “geopolitical self-interest” and accused the United States of stoking tensions in the region at a weekend global security conference.
The warning from China’s Foreign Ministry was in response to claims by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions” in the contested waters, a reference to Beijing and its territorial disputes with Manila, South China Morning Post reported.
Marcos made the comments at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual summit in Singapore that has long been the barometer for relations between China and the U.S.
This year, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held talks.
Dong was clear that despite the two officials meeting, China remained opposed to U.S. influence and its alliance-building in Asia, specifically pointing out America’s support for Taiwan.
“These malign intentions are drawing Taiwan to the dangers of war,” Dong said. “Anyone who dares split Taiwan from China will be smashed to pieces and court their own destruction.”
Dong’s comments illustrate how frayed U.S.-China relations remain as Beijing ups its presence in contested waters off the South China Sea and as both nations try to find a middle ground at sea and in the air that would prevent tensions from spiraling into an all-out crisis.
China called the U.S. out on its interests in the area and said it played “an extremely dishonorable role” by supporting and cooperating with the Philippine side’s abusive acts and using the South China Sea issue to provoke tensions between Beijing and other regional countries.
China added it was “crystal clear” who the Philippine foreign policy and its maritime operations serve, pointing to the U.S.
“Regional countries should remain highly vigilant in this regard and firmly hold the leading role of regional peace and stability in their own hands,” Dong said.
In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague slammed China’s behavior in the South China Sea and found its claim to sovereignty over the waters had no legal basis, giving Brunei, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Malaysia more leverage in their maritime disputes with China.
The landmark case was brought by the Philippines and was seen at the time as an important crossroads in China’s push for global dominance and its rivalry with the U.S.
China dismissed the ruling as illegal and argued Manila’s “unilateral initiation of international arbitration” without Beijing’s consent “violated international law.”
Dong also called out U.S. military activities in the disputed Second Thomas Shoal and said its deployment of a missile system in the Philippines was a “real threat to regional security.”
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As Dong slammed the U.S., Austin underscored the “importance of respect for high-seas freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea.”
Austin, in a speech on Saturday, warned against “actions in this region that erode the status quo and threaten peace and stability,” and added that “we all share an interest in ensuring that the South China Sea remains open and free.”
