ANKARA

China on Wednesday accused “outside” countries led by the US of making continued efforts to destabilize the South China Sea through “playing up tensions and providing weapons.”

"On the pretext of honoring bilateral treaties, the US is meddling in the South China Sea issue, undermining China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and attempting to threat and coerce China," said Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang.

He was reacting to remarks reportedly made by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on countering the “China threat” during his visit to the Philippines last month.

“This approach will simply not work,” Zhang told a press conference, China Military Online reported.

Hegseth, during his visit, also pledged support to the Philippines against China, followed by the US approval of F-16 fighter jet sales to Manila.

The report cited Zhang saying the Philippine side has repeatedly made infringements and provocations against China.

“Outside countries led by the US have made continued efforts to destabilize the South China Sea through playing up tensions and providing weapons,” the report quoted Zhang saying, adding that this exposes “their true intention of making troubles in the region.”

To the Philippine side, Zhang said relying on foreign support to “make waves at sea” will backfire and that as a pawn, it will only be used and discarded.

He urged the Philippine side to “give up unrealistic illusions and come back to the right track of dialogue and negotiation at an early date.”