Theater Command’s CNS Yuncheng sails to the water near South China's Hainan Island and Xisha islands, July 8, 2016. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING – The People's Liberation Army criticized the Philippines on Thursday for undermining regional peace and stability by "roping in non-regional forces" in joint patrols in the South China Sea.

Senior Colonel Tian Junli, spokesman for the PLA's Southern Theater Command, made the statement while responding to joint patrols conducted by the Philippines and the United States this week.

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He said the theater command's CNS Yuncheng had been on a routine patrol in the South China Sea since Tuesday.

“In the meantime, the Philippines has roped in forces from outside the region to patrol in the South China Sea, stirred up trouble, and hyped up the situation, undermining regional peace and stability and violating the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” said Tian.

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He said theater command troops remained on high alert to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and maritime rights and interests, and to resolutely safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.