In a thinly-veiled attack of the US and their allies, China’s top diplomat warned nations against airing condemnation toward China’s aggressive militarisation of the waters. In another dig, Wang Yi used a speech to update China on its progress with their much-anticipated Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Code of conduct, which could see intergovernmental powers end the deal in Beijing’s favour. Mr Yi said: “We think non-regional countries should not deliberately amplify such differences or disputes left from the past.”
The remark was in response to a question on US involvement in the South China Sea along with other non-Asian countries.
He added: “Non-regional countries should also not make use of these differences to sow distrust between China and ASEAN countries.”
China recently attacked US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over his criticisms of Beijing’s take over of the waters.
Beijing said the American’s remarks were “slanderous”.
China said: “This is slander against Chinese and Southeast Asian countries’ efforts to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea and properly manage differences.
“Countries and people in the region will not believe their words.
“We urge the United States to stop such irresponsible behavior and respect the efforts of China and ASEAN countries to resolve differences through dialogue and work for peace and stability in the South China Sea.”
Mr Pompeo joined forces with President Trump’s hawkish national security adviser John Bolton in a joint condemnation of China.
READ MORE: Trump vows to crush China in trade deal in angry Twitter tirade – ‘We have all the cards!’
The Republican tore into China as he threatened to pull trade negotiations until after next years presidential election.
The spat not only comes at a time of raised tensions between President Trump and China’s Xi Jinping, but also days before both sides are set to resume talks toward a much-anticipated trade agreement.
President Trump told his 62 million Twitter followers: “China is doing very badly, worst year in 27 – was supposed to start buying our agricultural product now – no signs that they are doing so. That is the problem with China, they just don’t come through.
“My team is negotiating with them now, but they always change the deal in the end to their benefit. They should probably wait out our election to see if we get one of the Democrat stiffs like Sleepy Joe.
“Then they could make a GREAT deal, like in past 30 years, and continue to ripoff the USA, even bigger and better than ever before.
“The problem with them waiting, however, is that if & when I win, the deal that they get will be much tougher than what we are negotiating now or no deal at all. We have all the cards, our past leaders never got it!”
The ’Sleepy Joe’ quip is Mr Trump’s nickname for former Vice President Joseph Biden.