MANILA (UPDATED) — China on Wednesday lashed out at the United States over its support to the Philippines with regard to the West Philippine Sea dispute, accusing it of preserving its own "selfish geopolitical interests."

• Philippines summons Chinese envoy over sea confrontations

"For some time, out of selfish geopolitical interests, the US has incited, supported and assisted in the Philippines’ infringement and provocation at sea, and repeatedly made threats by citing the US Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty," China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning claimed.

• China accuses US of 'stirring up' South China Sea tensions

The US State Department on Sunday released a statement calling on China to halt its "dangerous and destabilizing" actions in the West Philippine Sea following a fresh confrontation between Manila and Beijing vessels in the disputed waters.

• Task force calls out 'serious escalation' by China in West Philippine Sea

"The statement is an attempt to endorse the Philippines’ infringement of Chinese sovereignty and provocation. We firmly reject it," Mao said.

Mao said Beijing does not recognize the 2016 arbitral award by a UN-backed court invalidating its 9-dash nine claim.

"China has made clear that the so-called arbitral award on the South China Sea is illegal, null and void, and has no binding effect whatsoever," Mao claimed.

Mao added that the US itself do not honor arbitral awards.

"The US itself would not implement the judgement of the International Court of Justice and international arbitral awards. In what position is the US to tell China that it should implement an illegal arbitral award?" Mao said.

The collision over the weekend was the second since October, when a Chinese maritime militia vessel was recorded on video attempting to block a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal.

Earlier in the day, the defense chiefs of the Philippines and the United States discussed in a call China's alleged aggression in the West Philippine Sea over the weekend.

• PH, US defense chiefs discuss Chinese aggression in call

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III reaffirmed that the Mutual Defense Treaty extends to both nations' coast guards "and anywhere in the Pacific", including the South China Sea, where the smaller West Philippine Sea is located, according to a readout provided by the Pentagon.

The Mutual Defense Treaty is a pact between the US and the Philippines to support each other in case of an armed attack.

CHINA ALSO BLASTS UK

In a separate statement, China also lashed out at the United Kingdom for expressing its support to the Philippines.

"China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the groundless accusation made by the UK, having lodged stern representations with the UK side on this. China's rights and interests in the South China Sea have been established in the long course of history and have solid historical and legal basis," the Chinese embassy in Manila said.

The UK earlier condemned China's actions against the Philippines in the South China Sea over the weekend.

"The UK opposes any action which raises tensions, including harassment, unsafe conduct and intimidation tactics which increase the risk of miscalculation and threaten regional peace and stability," UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said.

• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

The spokesperson also reiterated the 2016 arbitral ruling awarded to the Philippines, which China does not recognize.

"The UK's picking on China by making an issue of the "award" of the South China Sea arbitration, which is illegal, null and void, stirring up trouble and sowing discord, seriously undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea," China said.

"We urge the UK to stop calling white black on the South China Sea issue, implement the 2019 International Court of Justice advisory opinion and relevant resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly on the Chagos Archipelago as soon as possible, and return Chagos to Mauritius at an early date to complete the decolonization of Mauritius," it added.

We urge the UK to stop calling white black on the South China Sea issue, implement the 2019 ICJ advisory opinion and UNGA relevant resolutions on the Chagos Archipelago as soon as possible, and return Chagos to Mauritius at an early date. @LaureBeaufils pic.twitter.com/2BjpAS6Ily

— ChineseEmbassyManila (@Chinaembmanila) December 14, 2023