Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a routine briefing that China has
taken a stern position on the recent China–Philippines maritime incident and
described the actions as deliberate provocation by Philippine military and
police. Asked whether the incident would affect Beijing’s peripheral diplomacy
or Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s agenda at ASEAN foreign ministers’ meetings in
Manila, Lin said China’s neighboring-diplomacy policy remains unchanged and that
East Asian cooperation platforms are not venues for bilateral maritime disputes.
He urged the Philippines, as ASEAN rotating chair, to promote dialogue and
cooperation rather than put political self-interest above regional peace and
stability, adding that those behind the provocations are obvious.
