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China opposes Manila's plans of building bases for US ships in South China Sea

According to previous reports, the US Defense Department is mulling the use of aircraft and ships for challenging China’s territorial claims in the areas of the Spratly archipelago
Philippine General visits Pag-Asa island amid escalating territorial dispute with China EPA/TASS/ RITCHIE B. TONGO / POOL
Philippine General visits Pag-Asa island amid escalating territorial dispute with China
© EPA/TASS/ RITCHIE B. TONGO / POOL

BEIJING, May 15. /TASS/. China opposes the Philippines’ intention to build naval bases for US ships in the South China Sea, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Friday, commenting on the statement on the Filipino side.

"We have voiced our serious concern to the American side in this connection," the diplomat said. According to her, the Philippines is "resorting to actions that contribute to whipping up tensions in the region." "The current situation in the South China Sea is stable. China and most countries are trying to resolve the disputes and promote freedom of navigation in the region to maintain peace and stability there," Hua Chunying added.

However, "the Philippines is constantly taking provocative steps with a view of making the territorial disputes more complex. China opposes such actions," she said.

According to previous reports, the US Defense Department is mulling the use of aircraft and ships for challenging China’s territorial claims in the areas of the Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea.

Beijing has for decades been involved in a dispute with many countries in the region over the territorial jurisdiction of a number of islands in the South China Sea, where significant reserves of hydrocarbons have been found. This refers, above all, to the Xisha archipelago (the Paracel Islands), the Nansha Islands (the Spratly Islands) and Huangyan Island. Other countries involved in the dispute are Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines. As of the end of 2013, China has been engaged in large-scale hydro-engineering and construction work on the expansion and development of the territories under its control.