China says Philippines should not start conflict in South China Sea

Record ID: 1986225

  • Title: China says Philippines should not start conflict in South China Sea
  • Date: 28th March 2025
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (MARCH 28, 2025) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON GUO JIAKUN WALKING INTO NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, GUO JIAKUN, SAYING: “Any cooperation between the United States and the Philippines should not be directed against a third party or harm the interests of a third party, and it
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Beijing China Foreign ministry Philippines South China Sea U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth US committment
  • Location: BEIJING, CHINA
  • City: BEIJING, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001232928032025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:China's foreign ministry said on Friday (March 28) the Philippines should not start a conflict in the South China Sea with U.S. support.
    Cooperation between the U.S. and the Philippines should not target third parties, ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press conference, when asked about U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's recent remarks.
    "I would like to stress that there has never been any problem with freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea," Guo said.
    Hegseth met with counterpart Gilberto Teodoro and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in Manila on Friday, where they signalled continued strong cooperation amid growing threats from China. During their meetings, they emphasised a shared commitment to peace in the Indo-Pacific region and in the South China Sea, where Manila accuses Beijing of repeated hostile actions.
    (Production: Wang Shubing, Josh D. Arslan)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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