South China Sea

Ministry of National Defense: Undaunted by Rising Winds and Waves, We Hope Only for Calm Seas

国防部：无惧风浪起但愿海波平

PLA Daily (解放军报) 28 May 2026

Summary

At the May 28 MND press conference, spokesperson Senior Colonel Jiang Bin dismissed Philippine Armed Forces Chief of Staff statements about South China Sea "illegal acts" and a "wartime footing" as fabricated narratives that have "lost all credibility," and accused Manila of provoking incidents at sea while colluding with "extra-regional forces." The response deploys two paired idioms—兴风作浪 (stirring up winds and waves) and 无事生非 (manufacturing trouble out of nothing)—framing the Philippines as the aggressor rather than engaging the substance of the complaints. The framing points to a consistent PRC rhetorical posture of inverting responsibility for South China Sea tensions, but the press conference adds no new operational or policy content beyond that baseline.

Translation

On the afternoon of May 28, the Ministry of National Defense held a routine press conference, at which Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, answered questions from reporters.

Reporter: According to reports, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines stated that the South China Sea faces behaviors including "illegal acts, aggression, bullying, and disinformation," that the Philippines faces a broader "security threat," and that the Filipino people should maintain a "wartime footing." What is your comment on this?

Jiang Bin: Certain individuals on the Philippine side have repeatedly hyped up China-related false narratives and have long since lost all credibility. The Philippine side has repeatedly provoked and stirred up trouble at sea, infringing upon China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and has colluded with extra-regional forces to sow chaos and disorder in the South China Sea. This seriously violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and damages the common interests of regional countries. Stirring up winds and waves (兴风作浪) wins no popular support; manufacturing trouble out of nothing (无事生非) will find no market. In fact, those who fabricate lies, intimidate the public, and incite confrontation are the true threat to the Philippines' national interests and the well-being of its people. Undaunted by rising winds and waves, we hope only for calm seas (无惧风浪起，但愿海波平). China will continue to take effective measures to safeguard its own legitimate rights and interests and to uphold regional peace and stability.

Original Chinese

5月28日下午，国防部举行例行记者会，国防部新闻发言人蒋斌大校答记者问。记者：据报道，菲律宾武装部队总参谋长称，南海面临“非法、侵略、欺凌和虚假信息”等行为，菲面临更广泛“安全威胁”，菲民众应保持“战时状态”。请问对此有何评论？蒋斌：菲方一些人反复炒作涉华虚假叙事，早已信誉扫地。菲方频频在海上挑衅滋事，侵犯中方领土主权和海洋权益，还勾连域外势力在南海搅局作乱，这严重违反《南海各方行为宣言》，损害地区国家共同利益。兴风作浪不得人心，无事生非不会有市场。实际上，那些炮制谎言、恐吓民众、煽动对抗的人，才是菲国家利益和人民福祉的真正威胁。无惧风浪起，但愿海波平。中方将继续采取有效措施维护自身正当权益，维护地区和平稳定。