Beijing warned yesterday that it was ready to respond to any escalation of a tense, month-long stand-off with the Philippines at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea in what was its toughest statement to date.

“The Chinese side has … made all preparations to respond to any escalation of the situation by the Philippine side,” Deputy Foreign Minister Fu Ying said after summoning Alex Chua, chargé d’affaires at the Philippine embassy in Beijing on Monday, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday. Fu made a “serious representation” about the stand-off.

“It is obvious that the Philippine side has not realised that it is making serious mistakes and instead is stepping up efforts to escalate tensions,” Fu told Chua, adding “it is hard for us to be optimistic about the situation”.

Fu’s warning was followed by a strongly worded commentary on the front page of the People’s Daily‘s overseas edition yesterday…