China urges Manila to rein in politicians over ‘red lines’

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi urged Manila to curb politicians he says smeared Beijing, after weeks of diplomatic spats over the South China Sea

BEIJING: China’s top diplomat Wang Yi urged the Philippines on Tuesday to rein in politicians who had repeatedly “smeared” Beijing and crossed its “red lines”.

The two Asian nations have long been at loggerheads over competing claims in the South China Sea, but tensions have risen in recent weeks following several diplomatic incidents.

Beijing accused Manila last week of “erecting multiple obstacles” to its attendance at a regional meeting in the Philippines, a claim rejected by the Southeast Asian country’s defence chief.