China wary of US navy's 'show of force' as Xi visits Manila
MANILA, Philippines — Beijing has expressed concern over the reported plan of the US Pacific Fleet to conduct a series of operations in the South China Sea as a show of force.
According to a report from CNN, the US is planning to sail ships and fly aircraft near China's territorial waters in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait in November.
This would be around the same period that Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit the Philippines.
"China, of course, expressed concern over a naval military exercise that the United States will be conducting in the area at about the same time that the Chinese president will be in the Philippines," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday.
President Rodrigo Duterte, however, has assured Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua that Manila would not be joining the exercises of its long-time ally.
"The general consensus was we don’t want anything to mar the visit of President Xi so I think that the DFA will do all that it can to make sure that President Xi’s visit will be fruitful and as productive as we would want it to be," Roque said.
The Chinese envoy met with Duterte on Monday to discuss Xi's upcoming visit to the country next month, which is seen to further strengthen the relations between Manila and Beijing.
According to Roque, Duterte and Zhao agreed that joint exploration in the West Philippine Sea, a portion of the disputed South China Sea, would be the for the best interest of both countries.
"China reiterated that they do not desire any military confrontation as a result of the West Philippine Sea (dispute) either with any of the claimant states or with any other powers because China is the biggest user of the West Philippine Sea," the Malacañang spokesman said.
Roque added that a military confrontation in the disputed waterway would have dire consequences on China's commerce.
The supposed proposal from the US Navy recommends the US Pacific Fleet to conduct a series of freedom of navigation operations close to Chinese forces for an entire week.
US defense officials clarified that there is no plan to engage with the Chinese, CNN reported.
The US Department of Defense has refused to comment on the proposed operation that would challenge China's dominance in the region.
"As the secretary of defense has said on countless occasions, we don't comment on future operations of any kind," Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. David Eastburn said.
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