China says certain individual in the Philippines should stop undermining bilateral ties, South China Sea stability

A certain individual of the Philippines should cease the provocations and theatrics, and stop undermining China-Philippines relations and stability in the South China Sea, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday.

Mao made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to a query about the recent statements by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on the South China Sea.

China's position has always been clear on the so-called "South China Sea arbitration," Mao said. "The Philippines unilaterally initiated the case, which is a distortion and abuse of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) dispute settlement mechanism."

It is the Philippine side that has violated UNCLOS and undermined its integrity and authority, she added.