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China warns Philippines to 'act with caution' after maritime clashes

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) attend a meeting with Vietnamese Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue (not pictured) at the National Assembly in Hanoi, Vietnam, Dec. 13, 2023. EPA-EFE/Minh Hoang/Pool " src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/12/21/20231221-xi-jinping-wang-yi-epa.jpg"/><figcaption>Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) attend a meeting with Vietnamese Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue (not pictured) at the National Assembly in Hanoi, Vietnam, Dec. 13, 2023. <em>EPA-EFE/Minh Hoang/Pool </em></figcaption></figure></div><p>BEIJING — China&#x27;s top diplomat Wang Yi warned his Philippine counterpart that Manila &quot;must act with caution&quot;, Beijing&#x27;s foreign ministry said, following a flurry of tense maritime confrontations in the disputed South China Sea.</p><p>Wang said on a Wednesday call with Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo the two countries were &quot;facing serious difficulties&quot;, blaming Manila for changing its policies, according to a readout.</p><p>&quot;Wang Yi said China-Philippines relations are currently facing serious difficulties,&quot; it said.</p><p>&quot;The root cause is that the Philippines has changed its longstanding policy stance, reneged on its own commitments, continued to provoke and stir trouble at sea, and undermined China&#x27;s legal rights,&quot; it said.</p><p>&quot;China-Philippines relations are at a crossroads. Faced with the choice of where to go, the Philippines must act with caution.&quot;</p><p>Manalo later confirmed that he and Wang &quot;had a frank and candid exchange and ended our call with a clearer understanding of our respective positions on a number of issues.&quot; </p><p>&quot;We both noted the importance of dialogue in addressing these issues,&quot; Manalo added. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/19/23/marcos-paradigm-shift-needed-on-west-philippine-sea-issue">Marcos: &#x27;Paradigm shift&#x27; needed on West Philippine Sea issue</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/12/16/23/decoding-china-wolf-warrior-diplomacy-echoes-us-mistakes">Decoding China: &#x27;Wolf Warrior&#x27; diplomacy echoes US mistakes</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RaCe4LUcIAs?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>The Philippines summoned China&#x27;s envoy on December 11 and flagged the possibility of expelling him following the most tense clashes between the countries&#x27; vessels in years at flashpoint reefs.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/18/23/marcos-shuns-calls-for-chinese-envoys-recall">Marcos ‘upset’ over Chinese envoy Huang, but sees no reason for his recall</a></li></ul><p>Videos released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed Chinese ships blasting water cannon at Philippine boats during two separate resupply missions to fishermen at Scarborough Shoal and a tiny garrison at Second Thomas Shoal the previous weekend.</p><p>There was also a collision between Philippine and Chinese boats at Second Thomas Shoal, where a handful of Filipino troops are stationed on a grounded warship, with both countries trading blame.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/20/23/ph-causing-trouble-only-china-believes-in-what-they-are-saying-gibo">Philippines causing trouble? &#x27;Only China believes in what they are saying&#x27; - Teodoro</a></li></ul><p>China claims almost the entire South China Sea and has ignored an international tribunal ruling that its assertions have no legal basis.</p><p>It deploys boats to patrol the busy waterway and has built artificial islands that it has militarized to reinforce its claims.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Di6AURbdVoA?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse </strong></div>

China's top diplomat Wang Yi warned his Philippine counterpart that Manila 'must act with caution', Beijing's foreign ministry said. 