Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th National People's Congress

China will continue to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, at the same time, the country will properly handle relevant issues with relevant countries through dialogue and consultation and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the South China Sea, Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), told at a press conference on Monday.

"China is opposed to bloc confrontation, and its cooperation with neighboring countries is open, inclusive and not exclusive," the spokesperson said in response to a question concerning some claims that the South China Sea is "the real flashpoint" now and on China's neighborhood diplomacy.

China has given high priority to its neighboring countries in its overall diplomatic work, Lou said, noting that with concerning efforts of various parties, China has joined hands with regional countries to keep to the right path of long lasting, good neighborhoods and shared progress. We have worked together to promote the building a community of shared future, he said.

Building a community of shared future between China and neighboring countries has been significantly advanced, particularly across Southeast Asia and Central Asia.

The joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative has seen active participation from regional countries, resulting in a plethora of projects and setting a demonstration effect, thereby providing crucial impetus for the economic and social development of participating nations.

Economic and trade cooperation has flourished, with China and regional countries forging intimate regional comprehensive economic partnerships and establishing the world's largest and most promising free-trade area. Over the past 15 years, China and ASEAN have served as each other's largest trading partners, setting a cooperative model against the headwinds of globalization, the spokesperson said.

However, the situation in the South China Sea has been under the spotlight, especially when the Philippines, with the support of the US, has been constantly provoking on the matter. For instance, Philippine envoy to the US recently said that the South China Sea, not Taiwan, is the "real flashpoint" for an armed confrontation in the region.

Since August 2023, the Philippines repeatedly made provocations on China's islands and reefs in the South China Sea, including Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef) and Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island), and smeared China's legitimate, reasonable and restrained measures that aimed to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.

In response to Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo's latest remarks that urged "China to stop harassing the Philippine ships," the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday that China's position on the South China Sea question is consistent and clear.

The recent maritime situation stems from the Philippines' frequent provocative actions in the South China Sea, infringing on China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, Mao said.

China has taken necessary measures to defend its sovereignty and rights and interests in accordance with the law, and there is no such thing as Chinese "harassment" of Philippine ships, the spokesperson noted.

The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines also slammed the remarks by raising six questions: Who is constantly provoking the situation in the South China Sea? Who is spreading the "China threat theory"? Who is forming cliques and fostering camp confrontation everywhere? Who invented "economic coercion"? Where did it start? Who habitually uses this tactic? The answers are self-evident, the embassy said on Sunday.

The embassy said it condemned those remarks made by certain individual who ignores basic facts, deliberately hyping up the South China Sea issue, and maliciously speculates on and smears China.

Asian countries and peoples have the wisdom and ability to solve their own problems. "Inviting wolves into the house" and forming "exclusive cliques" not only do not help resolve the South China Sea divergences but, on the contrary, only complicate the regional situation, undermine regional peace and stability, and ultimately backfire on their own security, the embassy said.

China is opposed to bloc confrontation and its cooperation with neighboring countries is open,inclusive not exclusive, Lou said.

In recent years, the NPC has increased its strength and absolutely engaged in various and wide ranging exchanges and cooperation with the legislators of neighboring countries through various channels, And we work hard to enhance the popular support and provide legal basis for building a community of shared future between China and its neighboring countries, he noted.

We will uphold the Asian values of peace, cooperation, inclusiveness and integration, providing new role for solidarity, openness and progress of the region, and together build a community of shared future for mankind to overcome challenges and realize common prosperity, Lou said.