U.S. should stop conniving and supporting Philippine provocations and nuisances

The U.S. should stop conniving and supporting the Philippine provocations and nuisances, and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea by taking practical actions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday in response to U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell’s remarks that the U.S. defense commitment to the Philippines is strong and that the U.S. expresses serious concern about China's actions in the South China Sea. 

Mao said the root cause of the current tense situation on China's Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef) is that the Philippine side has turned its back on the consensus reached with China, challenged China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and insisted on transporting large quantities of construction materials to the illegally grounded warship.

Campbell made the remarks when holding a talk with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu on Thursday, and they also exchanged frank and in-depth views on the current China-U.S. relations and issues of common concern, Mao said during the regular press conference.

Ma clarified China's solemn position on issues related to Xizang, Taiwan region, the South China Sea, and Ukraine during his call with Campbell, and demanded the U.S. side follow through on President Biden’s “five-noes” and other commitments, respecting China's sovereignty, security and development interests in a practical manner, so as to play a positive role in the stable development of China-U.S. relations, rather than the other way round.

The Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests, and the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-U.S. relations, Ma emphasized. "Taiwan independence" is a dead end, and those who connive at and support “Taiwan independence” separatist forces will get burned for playing with fire.

The U.S. should understand the nature of the Democratic Progressive Party authorities' "Taiwan independence" and the serious danger it poses to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, abide by the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, stop arming Taiwan, and put its commitment not to support Taiwan's independence into practice.

The Xizang issues have a bearing on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the U.S. should stop endorsing the "Xizang independence" forces in any form and stop interfering in China's internal affairs through the Xizang issues, Ma said.

China's position on the Ukraine issue is objective and fair, and the U.S. side should stop smearing China for no apparent reason, shirking its responsibilities and obstructing normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Russia. China firmly opposes the indiscriminate imposition of illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction by the U.S., and will firmly safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese entities and individuals.