Beijing says Quad ‘stirring up conflict' after statement on South China Sea tensions

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China on Monday charged the Quad alliance of “stirring up conflict after it expressed “concern” over situation in disputed South China Sea.

Quad is “stirring up conflict and coercing other countries and suppressing other countries’ development,” Lin Jian, spokesman of China’s Foreign Ministry, told reporters in Beijing.

“This is against global trend of peace, development and stability in the Asia-Pacific” region, Lin said.

Earlier in the day, the foreign ministers of Quad expressed “serious” concern over the situation in the East and South China Seas, according to a joint statement issued after their meeting in Tokyo.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa hosted her counterparts Antony Blinken from the US, Penny Wong from Australia and S. Jaishankar from India.

Without naming China, the foreign ministers reiterated their “strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion.”

The statement came amid tensions in the disputed South China Sea between China and the Philippines.

Lin said China is “committed to settle disputes in maritime area based on dialogue and consultation.”

China claims most of the South China Sea, but the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all have competing claims over the resource-rich waterway.

Last week, Beijing and Manila agreed to a provisional arrangement for resupply missions to Filipino troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef located in the Spratly Islands.

“Certain countries send their military vessels to create differences and conflicts and build up the small circles, separation and confrontation,” the spokesman added.

“This has become the biggest threat to regional peace and stability. China firmly opposes it.”

The US and its allies have routinely flown their reconnaissance planes as well as sailed warships in the South China Sea as well as in Taiwan Strait.

Beijing has also expressed concerns over Washington’s growing military presence in the Philippines.

“Certain countries on the one hand using the coercion to create bloc confrontation. They claim to protect their interest but to impose their own laws on others,” said Lin.

“We urge (relevant) countries to follow the efforts of countries to maintain stability, rather than stirring up the conflict and adding fuel to the fire,” he said, adding that initiatives like Quad “should become conducive to regional development and prosperity.”