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"Stressing only one side's claims and imposing one's own will on
the other is not a proper way for neighbours to treat each other
and it goes against the oriental philosophy of how people should
get along with each other," Wang Yi, the Chinese government's
top diplomat, told a virtual forum organised by China's embassy
in Manila and a local advocacy group.
His remarks come less than two months after the Philippines
condemned China's blocking of a military resupply ship in the
South China Sea, which prompted a warning from treaty ally the
United States that an attack on Philippine vessels would invoke
its mutual defence commitments.
China's extensive territorial claims in the South China Sea,
which it says are based on historic maps, have put it at odds
with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam,
which have competing claims to islands and features.
China has been accused by Western countries of aggression and
provocations by deploying hundreds of coast guard and fishing
vessels in the exclusive economic zones of its neighbours,
including the Philippines, far off its mainland.
China says its actions are justified, because the vessels are in
its territory. The Philippines has objected to what it calls
"incursions" and "swarming".
Wang said China hopes with the Philippines it can "properly
manage and resolve the issue in the spirit of goodwill and
pragmatism".
Chinese deputy foreign minister Fu Ying told the forum that
China hopes that whoever wins a Philippine presidential election
this May could "wisely, courageously, responsibly carry on
Philippines' independent foreign policy."
(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Writing by Karen Lema;
Editing by Martin Petty)
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