China has criticized the United States on Thursday, blaming it for allegedly escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea (or South China Sea in Beijing) and failing to promote peace in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Though not a party to the South China Sea issue, the United States has played a dishonorable part by stirring up confrontation and hyping up tension for its own geopolitical interest,” China said in a statement attributed to the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines.
China made this comment in response to US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, who said during the recent International Media Conference in Manila that the threats to peace and stability in the high seas are growing louder and stronger because Beijing keeps defying international laws.
Carlson, in her speech, urged China to cease its harassment of Philippine vessels lawfully operating in their exclusive economic zones (EEZ), halt its disruption to manage natural resources in their territorial waters, and end its interference to freedoms of navigation and overflight.
In line with its commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, the US diplomat expressed support for nations that are adhering to international law as a guiding principle in their decision-making process.
China took issue with these comments and accused the US of pushing its own geopolitical interests.
The Chinese Spokesperson called Washington “selective” when it comes to the application of what it claims as “rules-based international order” and raised suspicion on the US’ true intent in promoting regional peace and stability.
“When diplomatic efforts are being made by China and the Philippines to manage differences, the United States stokes the situation instead of promoting peace and facilitating talks. History and facts show that the United States has never been a solution to but rather the problem itself,” it claimed.
“It sends aircraft and warships to the South China Sea to flex muscles under the pretext of exercising freedom of navigation. Its true intention is not promoting regional peace and stability,” said China, which deployed its own warships and militarized some islands in the contested waters.
The Chinese Embassy spokesperson further accused the US of obstructing and undermining relations between the Philippines and China by pushing its “America First” policy. The official said this was evident when the US conducted a disinformation campaign against China’s vaccine donations to the Philippines during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
China criticized the US for frequently invoking the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to denounce its claims in the South China Sea, pointing out that the US itself “has neither signed nor ratified UNCLOS.”
Additionally, China highlighted that the “US refuses to comply with judgments and advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice and resolutions of the UN General Assembly.”