Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun

When asked about China's position on the US-Philippine annual joint military exercises launched in the Philippines on April 20, in which approximately 10,000 US military personnel are scheduled to take part, with the Japan Self-Defense Forces also set to participate, and which takes place amid tense China-Philippines and China-Japan relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that unilateralism and military bullying have inflicted profound disasters on the world. What the Asia-Pacific region needs most is peace and tranquility, and what it needs least is external forces being introduced to stoke division and confrontation.

Guo emphasized that military and security cooperation between countries must not undermine mutual understanding and trust among regional nations, disrupt regional peace and stability, or target or harm the interests of third parties. 

"We wish to remind relevant countries that blindly binding each other's security will only backfire and bring trouble upon themselves," the spokesperson added.

Global Times