RT.com
13 Mar 2023, 02:09 GMT+10
Strengthening military ties with the US will bind the Philippines to the "chariot of geopolitical strife," Beijing has claimed
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Sunday cautioned the Philippines against strengthening its military cooperation with the US, saying it will be used to serve Washington's geopolitical agenda to the detriment of Manila's own security.
The Chinese embassy in Manila issued its latest warning to the Philippine government on Sunday, citing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s decision last month to give US troops access to four additional military bases in the Southeast Asian country. Such cooperation will "pull the Philippines against China and tie the country to the chariot of geopolitical strife, seriously jeopardizing Philippine national interests and regional peace and stability," the embassy said.
Since Marcos took office last summer, relations with Beijing have been increasingly strained amid a territorial dispute in the South China Sea, where China claims sovereignty. US Vice President Kamala Harris visited the island nation last November, saying the world was "grappling with assaults on the rules-based international order."
READ MORE: US set to boost military presence near China
The Chinese embassy urged the Marcos administration to avoid getting sucked into US efforts to maintain global hegemony.
China has repeatedly accused the US and its NATO allies of behaving as if the Cold War were still going on. Washington has been "stirring up trouble" in the South China Sea, undermining efforts by China and its neighbors to maintain peace and stability in the disputed waters, the embassy said.
"Now that China and the Philippines, among other countries in the region, are at a critical juncture of post-Covid recovery, we should keep to the right track of maintaining good-neighborliness and attaining mutual benefit," the statement said.
READ MORE: This Asian country is strategically critical to both China and the US. Who will it choose?
Some of the Philippine bases where US soldiers will be stationed are located near the disputed waters. The defense cooperation agreement also enables US forces to store equipment at those bases, which could come in handy if war breaks out in the Taiwan Strait.
Get a daily dose of Philippine Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Philippine Times.
More InformationATLANTA, Georgia: The United States is facing its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades, with 1,288 confirmed cases so...
In the past month alone, 23 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza—three more than the number of remaining living hostages held...
LONDON, U.K.: At least 13 people are believed to have taken their own lives as a result of the U.K.'s Post Office scandal, in which...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Travelers at U.S. airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during security screenings, Department of Homeland...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: An elaborate impersonation scheme involving artificial intelligence targeted senior U.S. and foreign officials in...
SLUBICE, Poland: Poland reinstated border controls with Germany and Lithuania on July 7, following Germany's earlier reintroduction...
REDMOND, Washington: Artificial intelligence is transforming Microsoft's bottom line. The company saved over US$500 million last year...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A federal rule designed to make it easier for Americans to cancel subscriptions has been blocked by a U.S. appeals...
BASTROP, Texas: In a surprising turn at Elon Musk's X platform, CEO Linda Yaccarino announced she is stepping down, just months after...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak will return to Goldman Sachs in an advisory role, the Wall Street...
LONDON, U.K.: Physically backed gold exchange-traded funds recorded their most significant semi-annual inflow since the first half...
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Some 32 percent of global semiconductor production could face climate change-related copper supply disruptions...