China has accused the US and the Philippines of undermining stability in the South China Sea

Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Area Combat Command spokesman Tian Junli said the Philippines is destabilising the stable situation and peace in the South China Sea by conducting joint exercises with the United States.

Tian Junli said that the Philippines, by bringing in “external forces” to barrage the situation in the South China Sea, has created hype and havoc. According to the spokesman of the PLA Southern Combat Command Zone, Manila has thus disrupted the stable situation and peace in the region.

“At this time, the Philippines has brought in outside forces to conduct patrols in the South China Sea, creating chaos and rowdiness, thus violating regional peace and stability as well as the spirit of the Code of Conduct for Parties in the South China Sea,” Junli summarised, as quoted by the command on social networking site WeChat.

The Chinese soldier stressed that PLA forces will continue to maintain maximum concentration to firmly defend state security and sovereignty, as well as maritime interests and rights, stability and regional peace in the region.

Recall that according to the data of the General Customs Administration of the PRC, for the first three quarters of 2023 trade turnover between Russia and China increased by 29.5% to a record $176.5 billion. During the reporting period, China imported $81.4 billion worth of goods into Russia, showing an increase of 56.9%. Supplies from Russia to China over the same period totalled about $94.9bn, showing an increase of 12.7%. Thus, the trade balance remains in Russia’s favour.