US-Philippines cooperation should not target a third party, China says

Any cooperation between the United States and the Philippines should not target a third party or harm the interests of a third party, let alone exaggerate the so-called threat and increase the tension in the region, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday.

His remarks came as the US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in Manila that the US and the Philippines must stand "shoulder to shoulder" in the face of the so-called threat represented by China.

There has never been any problem with freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, Guo told a daily news briefing.

He emphasized that it is the US that has always condoned its allies to provoke trouble in the South China Sea and repeatedly fabricated the false narratives that China threatens freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

It is also the US that continues to strengthen military deployment in the region and attempts to undermine regional peace and stability, he added.

He urged the US to abandon the Cold War mentality, stop provoking ideological confrontation and stirring up trouble in the South China Sea, cease sowing discord, and stop being a troublemaker in the region.

Guo also warned the Philippines not to rely on the US to make trouble and try to provoke military confrontation.