BEIJING: China stated Tuesday the US had “no right” to intrude within the South China Sea, after Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated Washington stood by its commitments to defend the Philippines in opposition to armed assault within the disputed waterway.”The United States is not a party to the South China Sea issue and has no right to interfere in maritime issues that are between China and the Philippines,” international ministry spokesman Lin Jian advised a daily press convention in Beijing.Blinken is within the Philippine capital Manila – his second go to since President Ferdinand Marcos took workplace in 2022 – as a part of a quick Asia tour to strengthen US assist for regional allies in opposition to China.”Military cooperation between the US and the Philippines must not harm China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, and still less be used to provide a platform for the Philippines’ illegal claims,” Lin stated in a response to a query on Blinken’s earlier feedback.”China will continue to take necessary measures to resolutely defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea,” he added.Beijing claims nearly the whole South China Sea – a vital route for international commerce – brushing apart competing claims from a number of Southeast Asian nations, together with the Philippines, and a global ruling that has declared its stance baseless.
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