記者：據報道，美防長訪問菲律賓重申落實《美菲共同防御條約》承諾，共同應對“中國威脅”，期間菲美日位南海開展聯合巡航，近日美批準向菲出售F-16戰機。請問發言人有何評論？

Question: It is reported that the US Secretary of Defense reiterated US commitment to the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty to counter “China threat” on his visit to the Philippines. During his visit, the Philippines, the US and Japan conducted a joint patrol in the South China Sea. Recently, the US approved selling F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines. Do you have any comment?

張曉剛：美方以所謂雙邊條約為借口插手南海問題，損害中方領土主權和海洋權益，甚至妄圖以此威脅脅迫中方，這是不可能得逞的。需要指出的是，菲方一再對中方侵權鬧事，美等域外國家不斷拱火遞刀，攪得南海風波不斷、地區國家不得安寧，充分暴露其攪局者和肇事方的真實面目。“倚外鬧海”得不償失，“棋子”終成“棄子”。我們奉勸菲方放棄不切實際的幻想，早日回到對話協商的正確軌道上來。

Zhang Xiaogang: On the pretext of honoring bilateral treaties, the US is meddling in the South China Sea issue, undermining China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and attempting to threat and coerce China. This approach will simply not work. It needs to be pointed out that the Philippine side has repeatedly made infringements and provocation against China. Outside countries led by the US have made continued efforts to destabilize the South China Sea through playing up tensions and providing weapons. It fully exposed their true intention of making troubles in the region. To the Philippine side, “relying on foreign support to make waves at sea” will backfire and a pawn will only be used and discarded. We urge the Philippine side to give up unrealistic illusions and come back to the right track of dialogue and negotiation at an early date.