“We urge Japan to deeply reflect on its history, reconsider its actions, and contribute more to regional peace and stability, striving to become a truly independent and trustworthy nation,” it added.

The statement came after remarks by the Japanese envoy that were seen as veiled criticism of China’s conduct in the South China Sea dispute.

Endo Kazuya, the Japanese ambassador in Manila, expressed concerns over the weekend following the second collision in less than a week between vessels from China and the Philippines near Sabina Shoal.

Kazuya said on Sunday that the confrontation was an “unacceptable development” in the area and that countries must uphold a rules-based international order.

“Any harassment and actions which increase tensions or obstruct freedom of navigation are not tolerated,” he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

A day earlier, Manila accused Beijing of launching flares from its militarised island in Subi Reef when a Philippines military aircraft conducted a routine patrol last week.

It also said that the same aircraft faced harassment near Scarborough Shoal from a Chinese fighter jet, which made “irresponsible and dangerous manoeuvres” and deployed flares in close range multiple times.

The envoy has called it a dangerous incident “undermining the safety of the Philippines’ activities”.

China and the Philippines have both laid claim to numerous maritime features and areas in the strategic waterway, with tensions intensifying over increasingly frequent maritime clashes.

In another confrontation on Monday, Beijing claimed it implemented “control measures” against two Philippine ships illegally entering waters near Sabina Shoal.

Manila rejected Beijing’s claim, saying that the Chinese vessels used “excessive force”, deploying 40 ships, including three PLA Navy warships, to obstruct humanitarian missions being conducted by two Philippine coastguard vessels.

Manila has stepped up coordination with its treaty ally the United States and other regional powers to counter Beijing’s growing assertiveness.

One measure has been to invite the media aboard its vessels to record Beijing’s activities in the region in an effort to attract international scrutiny and criticism.

Countries including the US, Japan and Australia have frequently raised alarms and issued statements about China’s maritime endeavours amid confrontations between Beijing and Manila.

In its statement on Thursday, the Chinese embassy in Manila also criticised Tokyo for exercising a “double standard” in international law, citing its release of treated radioactive waste water, as well as its attempt to extend its claim to waters near Okinotori Reef in the Philippine Sea.

Beijing was concerned that Tokyo’s 2022 claim was for a reef that only had a surface area of less than 10 square metres (108 square feet) above water at high tide, adding that Japan was using the reef to assert jurisdiction over nearly 700,000 sq km (270,272 square miles) of surrounding waters.

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