China says Philippines' attempt to play victim to elicit sympathy will not work

China urged the Philippine side to return to the right track of resolving maritime disputes through negotiation and consultation, a defense spokesman said on Thursday.

Zhang Xiaogang, the Defense Ministry spokesman, made the remarks in Beijing in response to recent comments of Philippine officials.

According to media reports, the Philippine defense chief recently said that if the Chinese side hopes to decelerate tensions and stabilize the region, it should withdraw its "illegal presence" from the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

In addition, the spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard claimed that the giant vessels of the China Coast Guard attacked the small vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard and that these acts of intimidation and spreading of misinformation aim at hindering the activities of the Philippine fishermen.

Zhang stressed that China has indisputable sovereignty over South China Sea islands and its adjacent waters.

He noted that the maritime disputes between China and the Philippines have nothing to do with the size of countries, but is the merits of fact that matter.

"The Philippine side repeatedly organized its coast guard vessels and fishing boats to violate China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea, while playing victim to elicit sympathy from and cause confusion in the international community," said Zhang.

This will never work, he said.

"We urge the Philippine side to change course, and return to the right track of resolving issues through negotiation and consultation," said the spokesman.