China tells Japan to stay out of its maritime row with Philippines

Japan is not a party to the South China Sea issue and has no right to intervene in China-Philippines maritime matters, a spokesperson for China's embassy in Japan has said.

"We express our strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to the fact that the Japanese side has once again made erroneous remarks on the South China Sea issue that manipulate right and wrong, and make unreasonable accusations against China," the spokesperson said early on Friday.

Japan said it has consistently advocated upholding the rule of law at sea, and will continue to work with the international community, such as ASEAN member states and the United States.

"Japan's cooperation with the United States and the Philippines must not undermine China 's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," China's spokesperson said in a statement.

The US, Canada, Japan, and the Philippines recently wrapped up a two-day joint maritime exercise in Manila's exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.

Japan's Foreign Ministry said this week that it was seriously concerned over repeated actions that obstruct freedom of navigation and increase regional tensions, including recent dangerous actions that damaged a Filipino vessel and injured Filipinos onboard.

The Philippine Foreign Ministry has denounced as "illegal and aggressive" China's actions during a routine resupply mission on Monday, which the Philippine military said severely injured a navy sailor and damaged Manila's vessels.

China denied the allegations as the two countries square off over the Second Thomas Shoal.

South China Sea dispute

China claims almost all of the South China Sea as its own, infuriating neighbouring countries.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 found China's sweeping claims have no legal basis, a ruling Beijing rejects.

There is fear that disputes in the South China Sea, long regarded as an Asian flashpoint, could escalate and pit the United States and China in a larger conflict.

Aside from China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan have conflicting territorial claims in the busy waterway.

Since last year, hostilities between China and the Philippines have escalated in the disputed waters, particularly in Second Thomas Shoal, which is less than 370 nautical kilometres from the Philippine coast and where the BRP Sierra Madre, now encrusted with rust, was deliberately grounded by Philippine Navy in 1999 to create a territorial outpost.