China says US 'not a party' to South China Sea dispute after Trump-Marcos call

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Friday reiterated that Washington is "not a party" to the South China Sea dispute, rejecting US involvement after President Donald Trump assured Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that he would raise Manila's concerns with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Speaking at a regular press briefing in Beijing, Lin dismissed Washington's prospective role in mediating the longstanding territorial row.

"The US is not a party to the South China Sea issue," he told reporters, according to the Global Times. Lin added that "facts have shown that attempts to make provocations with the help of non-regional countries will only end up being used as a tool by others and reaping the bitter fruit of their own making."

Trump pledges to raise Philippine concerns

Trump told Marcos during a telephone conversation on Thursday that he would discuss the Philippines' concerns during his next meeting with Xi, possibly in September when the Chinese president visits the US, according to acting Philippine presidential spokesperson Dave Gomez. The call came amid renewed maritime tensions between Beijing and Manila over disputed features in the South China Sea, particularly the Second Thomas Shoal — known as Ren'ai Jiao in China and Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines.

Water cannon clash near Scarborough Shoal

On Friday, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela accused the China Coast Guard of firing a water cannon at a PCG vessel conducting patrols approximately 15 nautical miles northeast of Bajo de Masinloc — known internationally as Scarborough Shoal and claimed by Beijing as Huangyan Island. Tarriela said Philippine personnel aboard the vessels "are safe," condemning the alleged Chinese actions while the CCG stated it took "necessary measures to drive away" vessels that "illegally intruded" into China's territorial waters, according to state-run Xinhua News.

The China Coast Guard vowed to "resolutely safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," marking the second such engagement between the rival sides since Thursday. China and the Philippines have competing claims in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which trillions of dollars in global trade pass each year.