Photo courtesy from China Official

In a recent press briefing, China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, pointed fingers at the Philippines, accusing the Southeast Asian nation of violating common understandings and escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Wenbin claimed that over the past few months, it has been the Philippines that has been undermining the stability of the region.

According to Wang Wenbin, the Philippines has taken provocative actions, attempting to change the established status of Ren'ai Jiao—a disputed land feature in the West Philippine Sea—and making it a fait accompli. Ren'ai Jiao has been a source of contention between China and the Philippines, among other claimant countries, each asserting its territorial rights over the area.

Wenbin emphasized that the Philippines has consistently sought external support to exert pressure on China. He alleged that the Philippines has engaged in diplomatic maneuvers to court foreign powers, further complicating the situation in the WPS. This assertion aligns with China's longstanding position of opposing external interference in regional disputes, advocating for direct negotiations between the involved parties.

The remarks by Wang Wenbin come amid heightened tensions in the WPS, where territorial claims, militarization, and resource exploitation have been sources of contention among several nations, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and others.