China says ‘blackmail’ won’t stop from safeguarding its maritime rights

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Amid dispute with the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea, China said on Wednesday that no “blackmailing” can stop it from safeguarding its maritime rights.

“Any threatening, blackmailing or groundless attack is futile,” said China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, according to Beijing-based daily Global Times.

Mao said such blackmailing “cannot stop China's firm determination and will in safeguarding territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.”

She was responding to the US statement on Beijing-Manila tensions in the disputed waters.

Washington has backed Manila against Beijing and the US has “reaffirmed that Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the South China Sea.”

Manila early this weekend twice accused Beijing of attempting to block supplies to a rusting warship, BRP Sierra Madre, in the disputed South China Sea.

The two sides have conflicting claims over Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin Shoal, Bai Co May, and Ren'ai Jiao, which is a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea.

Manila Tuesday summoned China’s top diplomat in Southeast Asian nation, Ambassador Huang Xilian, to protest what the Philippines called “back-to-back harassments” in the disputed South China Sea.