THE Philippines is not and will never be part of China's territory, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua said on Tuesday, July 17.

"It (the Philippines) has never been any part of China," Zhao told reporters in Manila.

"Not now, not ever," he added, assuring the Filipino people that China has no plans of invading the Philippines.

Zhao's remark came after tarpaulins bearing the words, "Welcome to the Philippines, province of China," were hung on several footbridges in Metro Manila on July 12, the second anniversary of Manila's sweeping victory against Beijing in an arbitration case over the South China Sea disputes.

On July 12, 2016, the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines's petition against China, affirming that Beijing's nine-dash line claim over the disputed waters has no legal basis.

President Rodrigo Duterte, however, opted to brush aside the Philippines' win and instead focus on improving ties with China.

Malacañang earlier believed that the "enemies of government" were behind the installation of banners tagging the Philippines as a province of China.

Zhao downplayed the tarpaulin's message as a "vicious attack" by critics seeking to sow rift between the two countries.

"I don't think it is offensive, but it is bad," the Chinese emissary said.

"It's a kind of vicious attack, not only on the relations between the two countries, but also on the independent foreign policy pursued by President Duterte and his administration," he added. (SunStar Philippines)