China calls Phl-Vietnam games in disputed sea a 'clumsy farce'
MANILA, Philippines — China criticized the Philippines and Vietnam on Monday after naval personnel from both nations played sports in the disputed Spratly Islands.
In a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying reiterated that their country has "indisputable sovereignty" over the Spratly (Nansha) Islands and their adjacent waters.
"Don't you think this little trick by Vietnam and the Philippines is at most a clumsy farce?" Hua said.
Hua then urged the Philippines and Vietnam to stop stirring "trouble" in the contested territories.
"We require the Philippines and Vietnam to stop all the provocative actions, strictly abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and refrain from any action that may complicate and aggravate the disputes," Hua said.
China, the Philippines, Vietnam and other nations in the region have overlapping claims in the Spratlys, a group of mostly barren islands, reefs and atolls that are believed to be sitting atop oil and natural gas deposits.
On Sunday, Vietnamese and Philippine naval personnel played football, volleyball and tug of war on Vietnamese-occupied Southwest Cay Island, which the Philippines also claims and calls Pugad.
Aside from the daylong sports festival, cultural presentations were also held.
Philippine officials said about 40 Filipino navy personnel sailed by boat to the island, bringing local delicacies such as rice cakes.
Navy spokesman Gerald Fabic said during the games, each team included Vietnamese and Filipinos to underscore the friendly nature of the event.
"We're trying to set an example," the Filipino official said. "We want to show that there can be other approaches to the disputes that can in fact ease the tensions."
The two navies said the rare event aimed "to foster camaraderie and friendly relations between the two nations" and that it was "proof that disputes do not hinder development of practical and tangible cooperation."
"This also serves as a model of cooperation for the other navies to emulate," they said. - Louis Bacani with Jim Gomez, the Associated Press
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