Manila should stop playing with fire

In recent years, Manila has staged one farce after another to confront Beijing and raise tensions in the South China Sea. The Philippines has been telling the world one white lie after another to make its occupation of China's maritime territories permanent.

Despite being no match for China in economics or military strength, the Philippines dares to provoke China over the South China Sea issue only because it has the backing of the United States.

To realize its own strategic purposes in the Asia-Pacific region, the US has thrown its weight behind countries like the Philippines which have territorial disputes with China.

Its meddling in the disputes has emboldened these countries to occupy China's islands and islets, and thus heighten tensions in the waters.

It is countries like the Philippines that pose a risk of accidental confrontation in the disputed waters. Whatever tricks it has played, there is no denying that Manila is the real trouble-maker in the South China Sea.

As a country that has a stake in peace and stability in the South China Sea, China has so far exercised great restraint in the maritime disputes. China believes the disputes should be settled through direct negotiations and candid dialogue.

China is also working with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to negotiate a code for the implementation of the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

Given these facts, any irresponsible move by a country like the Philippines in the disputed waters, such as the ongoing US-Philippine war games, would poison the atmosphere, making it difficult to reach an agreement at an early date.

The author is a senior writer with ChinaDaily.

wanghui@chinadaily.com.cn