China likens US-Philippines joint patrol to ‘cold war’

Beijing

It said the “harmful” move will flare regional contradictions and damage peace and stability in the disputed territory. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spelled out China’s stance after the Pentagon said that US-Philippine joint patrols in the South China Sea will occur “regularly”.

“The military exchanges should not target a third party, not to mention supporting some countries to provoke China’s sovereignty and security, and  damaging regional peace and stability,” China’s  Foreign Ministry told state-run China Daily. “The joint patrols between the United States and the Philippines in the South China Sea has led to militarisation in the region, which is harmful to regional peace and stability,” said a statement of the Chinese Defence Ministry.

The statement came after the US said it had launched joint South China Sea patrols with the Philippines and that 275 troops and five attack aircraft  will remain in the Philippines temporarily. US Defence Secretary Ash Carter confirmed in Manila on Thursday that the US and the Philippines had already conducted such patrols.

Beijing said the US and the Philippines’ were strengthening military alliance, increasing frontline military deployment and holding joint military drills with specific targets reflected cold-war mentality and it went against peace and stability in the South China Sea. “We urge the parties concerned to sincerely respect the regional countries’ efforts to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea,” it said.

China’s claims of almost all of South China Sea is disputed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. Reports said the first joint patrol took place in March and a second one took place earlier this month. Carter said the US forces will be given access to more military bases in the Philippines than the five announced already.

The joint excercises have been dubbed ‘Balikatan’, in the Philippines, meaning shoulder to shoulder.