China firmly opposes any actions by the Philippines that undermine China's sovereignty, rights and interests, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Wednesday.
At a regular press briefing in Beijing, Mao made the remarks in response to the Philippines' illegal re-naming of some islands and reefs in China's Nansha Qundao.
"China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Qundao and its adjacent waters. The Philippines has illegally delineated the so-called 'Kalayaan Island Group' beyond its own territorial scope and assigned names to Chinese islands and reefs in the Nansha Qundao. Such acts infringe upon China's territorial sovereignty and violate the UN Charter and relevant international laws," Mao said.
"We firmly oppose the Philippines' actions that undermine China's sovereignty and rights. We will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea," she added.
China firmly opposes Philippines undermining China's sovereignty, interests: spokesperson
China firmly opposes Philippines undermining China's sovereignty, interests: spokesperson
U.S. President Donald Trump said he is strongly considering pulling the United States out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after the alliance failed to join the attacks on Iran, The Telegraph reported on Wednesday.
When asked if he would reconsider America's membership in the alliance after the conflict, he said the question is "beyond reconsideration," adding, "I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger."
Trump also expressed dissatisfaction with NATO for "not being there," saying it was "actually hard to believe."
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Trump would make a decision on the future of NATO given the fact that some U.S. allies refuse to provide support, after the end of U.S. military operations against Iran.
Following Trump's criticism, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he is not changing his position on the war.
Multiple European countries have kept their distance from the conflict with Iran. Starmer on Monday said his country will not get dragged into the conflict "whatever the pressure and whoever it's coming from," while Spain on Monday closed its airspace to all flights related to the U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran.
Trump calls NATO 'paper tiger,' considers withdrawal
