China on Friday said there ”has never been a problem” with freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea as it asked the Philippines not to start a conflict with United States support.
Cooperation between the U.S. and the Philippines should not target third parties, ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press conference when asked about U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth‘s remarks on Friday that the two countries should strengthen deterrence against threats, including Chinese “aggression.”
“I would like to emphasize there has never been a problem with freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea,” Guo said.
”The U.S. needs to get rid of its…