MANILA, Philippines - Did China poke fun at the Philippines and issue a veiled threat in a newspaper feature?
In its weekly feature entitled "Window to China" published by the STAR on Tuesday, the Asian giant maintained its position in the West Philippine Sea dispute.
But Beijing's paid feature also seemingly threatened and ridiculed Manila.
The full-paid feature contained a short ancient Chinese tale about a mantis and its prey.
"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole waiting in the backdrop," the tale read.
China said the tale "describes those shortsighted people wanting to hurt others, unaware of greater lurking dangers." For some experts, this could be a reference to the Philippines.
In an interview with television reporters, historian and military analyst Jose Custodio said the ancient Chinese tale was China's cryptic message or warning in relation to the sea dispute with the Philippines.
Custodio also took offense to the caricatures of South East Asian nations that were contained in the newspaper feature.
He said it was insulting that among the caricatures, the Filipino was depicted as the smallest.
Reacting to the newspaper feature, Malacañang urged China to be a responsible country.
"Some people may take it as a threat but what is important for us is that we are all responsible members of the family of nations," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.
"And I think that China, being cognizant of its role in the community of nations, would act accordingly as a responsible nation," he added.
In the same newspaper feature, China said Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario "attacked China on its South China Sea policy" during two recent international events.
China released the response of Foreign Minister Wang Yi who cried foul over "non-constructive words or deeds that attempt to exaggerate the disagreements, hype up confrontation and heat up tensions."
Wang further claimed that China is the victim in the sea dispute since it was other countries which began invading and occupying the disputed islands and reefs in the Spratlys.
Wang said China wants a peaceful resolution of the territorial dispute but it also has the right to stop "illegal moves" against its sovereignty.
Wang concluded by maintaining that China will continue to build facilities on its artificial islands in the disputed waters - Louis Bacani