Following the controversial advertisement that appeared on a daily broadsheet earlier this week, China on Thursday denied issuing a veiled warning against the Philippines.
Philippine Star has released the full-page advertisement of the Chinese Embassy in Manila on August 11 entitled, Window to China that featured the statement of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a regional forum in Malaysia last week.
The statement delivered by the foreign minister also included an ancient poem, which came as a supposed cryptic warning directed to the Philippines.
Philippines is China’s vocal critics with regards to the sweeping claim in the South China Sea.
Wang reprimanded the Philippines and its allies, US and Japan, for questioning its policies and ownership over the disputed territories which the latter claimed to have “historical and indisputable” sovereignty.
Embassy spokesperson Li Lingxao cleared media reports implying that China is threatening the Philippines.
“The article ‘Wang Yi on the South China Sea issue at the ASEAN Regional Forum’ published on “Window to China” on Aug.11 is meant to express the official position of the Chinese government on the issue of the South China Sea,” Li said.
The statement earlier became controversial as the advertisement also featured a poem that read: “The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole waiting in the backdrop.”
Under the image, an explanation was written saying: “This image describes those shortsighted people wanting to hurt others, unaware of greater lurking dangers.”
However, for defense analyst Jose Custodio such references by China is already considered as a warning against the Philippines.
With reports from GMA News.