Regional countries need to see who is fueling tensions across the Taiwan Strait: FM spokeswoman

(ECNS) -- Comments on the locations of the four new military bases added in the Philippines say that it is apparently targeted at China, which speaks to the concern shared by many insightful people in the Philippines, who worry that this may draw their country into the whirlpool of a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Thursday.

Mao made the remarks in response to the claim of the Philippines’ Department of National Defense chief Carlito Galvez Jr. on Wednesday that the addition of four sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the U.S. will further boost the country’s capabilities to protect national interests and contribute to collective defense in the region, and also aims to protect the busy sea lanes of commerce in the South China Sea.

She mentioned the long list of turmoil, division and devastation left behind by the U.S. military around the world.

"Will increased U.S. military deployment in one’s country or the region truly help protect sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability or rather cause grave irreparable consequences?" she asked.

Regional countries need to think carefully about this, she added.

“As to protecting sea lanes of commerce in the South China Sea, I believe the concern is really uncalled-for. There is never any issue with freedom of navigation and safety in the South China Sea,” the spokeswoman noticed.

She pointed out that China and ASEAN countries are committed to the full and effective implementation of the DOC and steady progress in COC consultations. “We have both the will and the capability to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea. There is no need for unwanted interference by forces outside the region.”

She stressed that the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair and its resolution is a matter for the Chinese. It is not the Chinese side that is heightening cross-Strait tensions, but the “Taiwan independence” forces in the island and certain countries that support these forces, she said.

We hope regional countries could see clearly who is fueling tensions across the Taiwan Strait for what purpose and will not pull someone else’s chestnuts out of fire at their own expense, she added.