Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun

Responding to media inquiry that a Philippine brigadier general claimed that Manila regards the annual joint military exercise with the US launched on Monday as a rehearsal for their defense, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that the international community is currently facing the impact of unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonic bullying. Countries in this region urgently seek to strengthen unity and cooperation to safeguard regional stability and jointly address challenges. Against this backdrop, the Philippines, in collusion with external countries, has been conducting large-scale military exercises, introducing and deploying strategic and tactical weapons, undermining regional strategic stability, and jeopardizing the region's economic growth prospects. This has positioned the Philippines in direct opposition to regional countries, triggering strong resentment and opposition, Guo said.

Guo emphasized that the Taiwan question is purely a matter of China's internal affairs and is at the core of China's core interests. China firmly opposes any country using the Taiwan question as a pretext to strengthen military deployments in the region, provoke tensions and confrontations, and undermine regional peace and stability. Guo urged relevant parties not to provoke on the Taiwan question, warning that those who play with fire will burn themselves.