China doesn’t see itself more isolated in the region

MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese Foreign Ministry yesterday downplayed the observation that China is more isolated in the region as countries, including the Philippines, want the United States’ presence to prevent an unmoored and unearthed Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning was reacting to US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel’s comments about how China seems to be more and more isolated in the region and Beijing’s disregard of the sovereignty of countries.

“I have not seen the ambassador’s remarks yet and don’t see how he came to such a conclusion,” Mao said. 

“China maintains friendly cooperation with countries in the region and beyond. I don’t know on what ground he made such remarks,” she added.

With China’s repeated harassment of Philippine crews and vessels in the West Philippine Sea, the Chinese envoy said that Manila has repeatedly infringed on Beijing’s rights, provocations and heightened tensions.

“We ask the Philippines to stop going back on its word and stop its provocations,” she said.

China has claimed that Philippine personnel pointed guns at the China Coast Guard who has repeatedly harassed Philippine crews and vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

Mao called the Philippines’ grounding a warship at Ayungin Shoal as illegal.

“Since then, the Philippine side has further made frequent provocations, heightened tensions and escalated the situation. We find that simply unacceptable,” she said.

“China has more than once made clear its principled position on how this issue should be handled. We ask the Philippines to stop making provocations, and return to the right track of handling differences through dialogue and consultation,” she added.