China’s Blunt Message for the U.S.: Stay Out of the South China Sea Dispute

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said curtly at the regular press briefing in Beijing on March 19 2024. Image via @MFA_China on X.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry delivered a simple, straightforward, and somewhat blunt message to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in response to his reaffirmation of Washington’s “ironclad” promise to defend the Philippines in the event of a war: Stay out of the South China Sea dispute, it has nothing to do with you.

“The U.S. is not a party to the South China Sea issue and has no right to interfere in the maritime issues between China and the Philippines,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said curtly at the regular press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

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by Eric Olander

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