MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday (10 Mar 2025) rejected Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s statements suggesting that incidents in the South China Sea (SCS) are “staged under the direction of other countries.”
The DFA emphasized that China must acknowledge the Philippines as an independent and sovereign nation, with decisions and actions driven solely by national interests and the welfare of the Filipino people.
Earlier, China had likened the SCS dispute with the Philippines to a “shadow play,” warning that “those acting as others’ chess pieces are bound to be discarded.”
Wang accused the Philippines of following an external script, claiming that every move made by the country in the SCS is written by outside forces. He also asserted that Western media livestreams this “show,” with the objective of smearing China.
In response, the DFA stated, “No creative analogy or play of words will mask the real issue, which is China’s refusal to comply with international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the 2016 Arbitral Award. China’s disregard for the rules-based international order is adversely affecting Filipino communities who are genuinely impacted by China’s illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive behavior at sea.”
The DFA further urged all countries to exercise caution and refrain from actions or rhetoric that could heighten tensions in the region.
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