It is not surprising that China's Foreign Ministry has responded with strong words to the accusations of countries such as the Philippines and the United States, which have intentionally played up China's construction work on some of its islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

Like singing a duet, Manila and Washington have competed with one another recently in criticizing China's reclamation work.

Manila has made all sorts of allegations, such as the work poses a threat to the island country's fishing industry and it violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.