Philippines rejects China’s ‘shadow play’ accusation

The Philippines on Monday rejected China's accusation that it is being used by Western countries to portray Beijing negatively in South China Sea tensions.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi characterized the confrontations as a 'shadow play' performed by Manila at the behest of external forces, suggesting scripted incidents and media coverage to smear China's image.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) countered that no creative analogy or wordplay can mask the real issue, which is China's refusal to abide by international law and its continued disregard for the 2016 arbitral award in favor of the Philippines.

China’s actions have affected Filipino communities in the disputed areas due to its illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive behavior at sea, according to the DFA.

The DFA urged countries to avoid actions and words that contribute to regional tensions, highlighting the adverse effects of China's behavior on Filipino communities.