In a strong message from Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi cautioned against infringement and provocation in the South China Sea, emphasizing that such actions “will backfire.”
Addressing a press conference on Friday during the national legislature’s ongoing session, Wang Yi pointed to recent moves by the Philippines as attempts to create friction in the region.
“These are merely ‘shadow plays’ orchestrated to smear China,” Wang said, noting that “the screenplay is written by external forces and the show is livestreamed by Western media.”
The foreign minister stressed the importance of trust and adherence to established rules to achieve lasting peace and security in the South China Sea. “To realize good neighborliness, we need both trust and rules,” he stated.
Wang Yi highlighted the significance of fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and working towards a sound Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).
“Those acting as others’ chess pieces are bound to be discarded,” Wang warned, underscoring that external interference would not serve the interests of regional stability.
