China says US using Philippines as ‘pawn’ in South China Sea

BEIJING — China on Wednesday accused the United States of using the Philippines as a “pawn” in the South China Sea, as hostilities between the two Asian nations escalate over their territorial dispute in the region.

“China urges the United States not to use the Philippines as a pawn to stir up trouble in the South China Sea. The Philippines should not let itself be at the mercy of the United States,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters.

READ: PH says China ‘deliberately stirring up trouble’ in South China Sea