CHINA’S foreign minister said on Saturday that his country was willing to work with the Philippines to resolve their differences, as tensions rise in the South China Sea over Manila’s deepening military co-operation with the United States.

Foreign Minister Qin Gang held talks in Manila with his Philippine counterpart, Enrique Manalo, and met President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr just days before he travelled to Washington for a meeting with President Joe Biden.

China has warned that the deepening security alliance between the US and the Philippines, known as the Enhanced Defence Co-operation Agreement , should not harm its security and territorial interests.

The Chinese also said the alliance between the US and Philippines must not interfere in long-simmering territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Beijing has criticised a recent agreement by the Philippines and the US to grant US forces access to additional local military camps.

The pact between the US and Philippines allows the Pentagon to use parts of five military bases at Antonio Bautista, Basa, Fort Magsaysay, Lumbia and Mactan-Benito Ebuen.

The military of the US and Philippines carry out regular war games which simulate attacks on China.  

Mr Biden’s administration has been building up its military strength in an arc around China.

According to the Pentagon’s own figures, the US has at least 313 bases in east Asia and around 750 worldwide.

In contrast, China has one base in Djibouti and several in the South China Sea, bringing the country’s total foreign military bases to around eight.

Earlier this month the US and Philippines held what was reportedly their largest-ever military drills which involved more than 17,000 troops from both sides as well as military personnel from other countries including Australia.

The drills were met with protests from peace campaigners who warned the Filipino government against becoming a convenient launch pad for a war with China.

Mr Qin said: “We are willing to work together with Philippines to implement the consensus of both leaders, keep China-Philippine ties in the right direction, safeguard the overall situation of our bilateral relationship, work together to continue our tradition of friendship, deepen mutually beneficial co-operation, and properly resolve our differences in the spirit of credibility, consultation, and dialogue.”

Mr Manalo said he hoped the meeting will provide an opportunity to make “some headway in addressing common issues and challenges.”