CRI听力:China Urges Caution on Relevant Parties to Stop Provocation in the South China Sea

The Chinese side says the Philippine government should end its provocations in the South China Sea.

The comments from the Foreign Ministry came after Philippine President Benigno Aquino III went on record saying his country will join the United States in adding additional military patrols in the South China Sea.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying says the Philippine government should instead focus on negotiations.

"We can see that recently some people from the Philippine side are continually stirring up tensions on this issue. China has made its stance quite clear. We want to kindly remind the Philippine side, China will never oppress small powers, but at the same time we don't think that small powers should continuously make trouble out of nothing. We hope the Philippine side can stop stirring up tensions and making provocative movements, and instead go back to negotiations and talks. "

Tensions in the South China Sea have been on the rise following a decision by the United States to begin military flights over areas in the South China Sea controlled by China.

Chinese Ministry of Defense spokesperson Yang Yujun says there are two main reasons for this.

"Why has this issue suddenly become a hot topic recently? I think there are two reasons: one is that some country increased its frequency of conducting surveillance activities in South China Sea and that makes the problem stand out; the other reason is that some parties have been speculating and exaggerating on this issue again and again and their purpose is to blacken China's military, exaggerate the regional tension, and we can't rule out that it is to seek an excuse for some country to take unspecified actions in response in the future."

The fly-overs have prompted the Chinese government to lodge formal complaints with the United States.

On Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that the US is not a party concerned to the South China Sea issue.

Instead of stirring up troubles, Hua Chunying said the US side should be discreet with words and actions and create an enabling environment for the consultation between China and ASEAN countries.

The reconnaissance flights appear to be focused on infrastructure construction projects that China has been undertaking in the South China Sea.

The Chinese Defense Ministry has noted these projects are for both military and civilian use.

For CRI, this is Yu Yang.