China rejects Manila's claim that Japan-Philippines sea boundary deal has no Beijing implications

China has pushed back against Manila's insistence that a maritime delimitation agreement reached with Japan has no bearing on Chinese interests, with a Chinese expert dismissing the Filipino foreign minister's assurances as unconvincing.

The expert argued that the deal carries ulterior purposes that extend far beyond what the two countries have publicly stated, challenging the Philippine government's position that the arrangement is strictly a bilateral matter.

Beijing's reaction signals deepening unease over the growing web of maritime agreements being forged among countries in the region, particularly those involving waters that China regards as falling within its own claimed boundaries.