Manila, March 8 -- All Philippine actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) are solely based on national interest, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo reaffirmed on Saturday to counter claims by China that they are part of a foreign-backed agenda.

Manalo issued the reaction after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the country's actions to assert its rights over the region as a "plot" in some foreign force's "screenplay" to discredit China.

The issue over WPS, Manalo said, is being "cast in the light of the strategic rivalry among the big powers, when actually the issue is really an issue of Philippine interests."

"The Philippines has no connection to any kind of strategic rivalry among the big powers -- it should not be vie...