China’s Wang cautions US official on support for Philippines amid Sea dispute

• Wang argues that the US should not undermine China’s sovereignty or condone the Philippines’ actions.
• Sullivan, visiting China, expressed anticipation for productive conversations with Wang.
• China has been accused of escalating regional tensions by Washington’s allies, Japan, and the Philippines.

On Wednesday, China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, warned visiting US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan about supporting the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea, according to state media.

“The United States must not use bilateral treaties as an excuse to undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, nor should it support or condone the Philippines’s actions of infringement,” Wang told Sullivan, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Sullivan arrived in the Chinese capital on Tuesday for a three-day trip and expressed his anticipation for “a very productive round of conversations” with Foreign Minister Wang upon his arrival.

In the past week, Washington’s allies, Japan and the Philippines have blamed China for escalating regional tensions. Tokyo has accused Beijing of violating its airspace, while Manila has labeled China the “biggest disrupter” of peace in Southeast Asia.

According to CCTV, Wang emphasized to Sullivan that “China is firmly committed to safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights over the South China Sea islands.”

Over the past year and a half, Sullivan and Wang have met five times— in Washington, Vienna, Malta, and Bangkok, as well as alongside US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at a November 2023 summit in California.

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