China warns US against playing with fire!
The growing ties between the US and the Philippines have irked China, especially after the Philippines ambassador to the United States, Jose Manuel Romualdez, gave a sensational statement in an interview with the Japan-based magazine Nikkei Asia Review on Thursday.
During the interview, it was categorically stated that “the South China Sea is the flashpoint, not Taiwan.”. The ambassador further warned that any incident in the region could escalate into a full-blown global conflict.
Reacting to this statement through an editorial in the Global Times, an English daily published by the Chinese Communist Party, the title read, “Philippine ambassador’s comments sound like they come from US official.”.
A Chinese newspaper issued a warning to the United States on Friday that it should stop “playing with fire” when it comes to China’s affairs in the South China Sea. It also termed Romualdez’s comments “sensational,” while accusing him of supporting US interests rather than those of the Philippines.
It further stated, “The US intention to stir up trouble in the South China Sea is now obvious, and the Philippines is the stick it wields to muddy the waters.”. It continued in its editorial, “Although China has shown maximum restraint in the South China Sea, that will end if repeatedly provoked.”
Meanwhile, the US has made itself clear regarding its relations with and alliance with the Philippines. The President of the US, Joe Biden, reiterated the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951 and vowed to respond militarily against any attack on Filipino servicemembers.
It further wrote that “for this, the US should weigh up carefully and not get burned by playing with fire,” and added that the Philippines should also be cautious not to become “a victim to be exploited.”.
Last weekend, the Philippines accused China of firing water cannons and ramming into Philippine resupply vessels, while on Monday, China’s foreign ministry stated that the Philippine vessels “ignored Chinese coastguard’s warnings and insisted on rushing into” waters near the Second Thomas Shoal.
Chinese have since long claimed most of South China, and relations between the Chinese and the Philippines have never been normal since then.
