China urges Philippines not to act as pawn of other countries: spokesman

China urges certain individuals in the Philippines not to act as other countries' pawn, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday.

U.S. Defense Minister Pete Hegseth plans to visit the Philippines on March 28 and 29, and will meet Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, according to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel del Gallego Romualdez.

Speaking at a regular press conference, Guo urged certain Filipino individuals not to serve as geopolitical "pawn".

"On the military cooperation between the Philippines and the United States, China has made clear its position on many occasions. Any defense and security cooperation between the Philippines and other countries should not target third parties or harm the interests of third parties, nor should it threaten regional peace or exacerbate regional tensions. Facts have repeatedly proven that nothing good could come out of opening the door to a predator. Those who willingly serve as chess pieces will be deserted in the end. We have a piece of advice to certain individuals in the Philippines: stop serving as other countries’ mouthpiece and no more stunt for personal political agenda," Guo said.

The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 20 pips to 7.0108 against the U.S. dollar Monday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.

In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity rate each trading day.

The central parity rate of the yuan against the U.S. dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day.