The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines issued a strong rebuttal on Wednesday to recent comments made by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr, describing them as irresponsible distortions of the truth aimed at deliberately smearing China.

In a statement, embassy spokesman Ji Lingpeng expressed China's firm opposition to Teodoro's allegations that China harbors sinister and opaque intentions and restricts the Philippines' pursuit of an independent foreign policy. The Philippine defense chief also stated that the joint military exercises between the Philippines and the United States are a form of collective deterrence against China.

Ji pointed out that in recent years, certain forces in the Philippines have continuously provoked trouble at sea and invited external forces to interfere in regional affairs. This has led to escalating tensions in the South China Sea and plunged China-Philippines relations into serious difficulties, he added.

The spokesman also noted a recent positive trend, citing that through mutual efforts, China and the Philippines have resumed diplomatic dialogue and held three rounds of talks.

Meanwhile, personnel exchanges are increasing, more direct flights have opened, and new opportunities are emerging in economic and trade cooperation, he added.

However, some anti-China forces could not wait to disrupt and undermine this progress, Ji said. "Their goal is very plain: China-Philippines relations must be spoiled, not improved; the peoples of the two countries must be hostile, not become closer."

He warned that their schemes and intrigues are doomed to failure because "they stand against the will of both peoples and on the wrong side of history".

Citing the ongoing energy crisis as a telling case where unilateralism and hegemony have inflicted grave disasters on the world, Ji stressed that what people need is peace, stability and development, rather than external forces stirring up more conflicts and confrontations.

"Those who rely on external forces in an attempt to stoke major-power rivalry and profit from it are very likely to get burned and become cannon fodder," the spokesman cautioned.