Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said a Philippine defense ministry statement
is full of lies and malicious attacks, interferes in China’s internal affairs
and constitutes a serious political provocation; China firmly opposes it. He
accused a small group of anti‑China elements in the Philippines of manipulating
public opinion and issuing the statement in the name of government departments
to damage China‑Philippines relations and breach recent diplomatic commitments,
and warned them to stop provocations or face consequences.
