ISTANBUL

China expressed opposition Tuesday to using the South China Sea as an "excuse" for the Philippines and the US to strengthen their military and security cooperation.

Beijing "firmly opposes enhancing military and security cooperation and alliance using the South China Sea as an excuse and targeted military deployment actions, such moves cannot solve any problem," Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said during a news conference in Beijing.

It follows Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's visit to the US, where a defense treaty between Manila and Washington was said to include the South China Sea.

"Together, we remain committed to the mutual defense treaty. And this pact extends to armed attacks on our armed forces, aircraft, or public vessels, including our Coast Guard, anywhere in the Pacific, including the South China Sea," US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said during the July 21 meeting, according to a Pentagon statement.

"The defense and security cooperation between the Philippines and other countries should not target any third party or interfere in disputes over the South China Sea, still less provoke confrontation or escalate tensions in the region," said Guo.

Beijing urged Manila to cease "getting" other countries to "hype up tensions or shift blame to others on maritime issues."

China also urged the Philippines to take concrete actions to practice independent autonomy and keep the region peaceful and stable."

The Philippines is the US’ oldest military ally in the Asia-Pacific region, where American forces have access to Philippine military bases under a defense treaty.

-China opposes Japan's 'military expansion'

"Japan increased its military spending annually and went further on the path of military expansion in outer space," said Guo, referring to Tokyo's first guidelines that were issued Monday to enhance its defenses in outer space.

Guo also expressed "firm opposition" to Japan's use of so-called threats from other countries as an excuse for its military buildup, one day after Japanese media reported that Tokyo is planning to deploy long-range missiles in Kumamoto on the southwestern island of Kyushu, for "counterstrike capabilities" against enemy targets.