Philippines makes provocations in name of security cooperation: Chinese military spokesman

A Chinese defense spokesman on Thursday accused the Philippines of making provocations in the name of security cooperation in the South China sea.

At a press conference in Beijing, Jiang Bin, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, responded to a media query about the Philippines using its co-chairmanship of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus Experts' Working Group (EWG) on Maritime Security to rally certain countries for a joint military exercise near China's Huangyan Dao.

The Philippines is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"Taking advantage of its role as co-chair of the EWG on Maritime Security, the Philippine side has put aside the principle of consensus through consultation and co-opted relevant countries into conducting a joint military exercise in areas near China's Huangyan Dao. The exercise is in fact a provocation and propaganda in the name of security cooperation. It will only disrupt regional peace and stability and runs counter to the regional consensus of jointly preserving peace and promoting development," said Jiang.

Philippines makes provocations in name of security cooperation: Chinese military spokesman

China on Friday urged New Zealand to abide by the one-China principle and stop sending wrong signals to the separatist forces in China's Taiwan region.

The New Zealand Defense Force acknowledged on Monday that its naval frigate HMNZS Te Mana and replenishment ship HMNZS Aotearoa sailed through the Taiwan Strait last Friday.

In response, Jiang Bin, a spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense, told a press conference in Beijing on Thursday that Chinese troops had appropriately responded to the incident.

"The Chinese military organized naval and air forces in accordance with laws and regulations to track and monitor the New Zealand naval vessels throughout their transit of the Taiwan Strait, effectively handling the situation," Jiang said.

"We urge the New Zealand side to abide by the one-China principle and refrain from sending wrong signals to the separatist forces in Taiwan," said the spokesman.

China urges New Zealand to abide by one-China principle