Coast guard continues to carry out law enforcement to safeguard sovereignty
China expelled a Philippine naval gunboat that had intruded into waters near Huangyan Island in the South China Sea, a spokesman said on Tuesday morning.
China Coast Guard spokesman Gan Yu said in a statement that a Philippine navy gunboat on Tuesday insisted on trespassing into the waters adjacent to China's Huangyan Island, despite repeated dissuasion and warnings.
China Coast Guard vessels, after multiple verbal warnings that proved ineffective, lawfully took necessary measures such as following and monitoring, warning off and route controlling, to drive away the Philippine warship, he said.
The operation was conducted professionally, in accordance with regulations, and legitimately, the spokesman added.
Gan said that China holds indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Island and its adjacent waters, and has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters.
The actions of the Philippine side violated Chinese sovereignty and seriously contravened international law and basic norms of international relations, said the statement, urging the Philippine side to immediately stop its acts of infringement.
China Coast Guard will continue to carry out law enforcement activities to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests within Chinese jurisdictional waters, in accordance with the law.
Since early August, the Philippines has frequently violated China's territorial sovereignty by sending official vessels and warships to trespass into waters adjacent to Chinese islands in the South China Sea six times in just two months, including four times at Ren'ai Reef and twice at Huangyan Island.
The Philippines' repeated attempts to send construction materials to repair and reinforce a grounded military vessel in Ren'ai Reef have been thwarted by China Coast Guard, which had conducted necessary measures in response.
On Saturday, a spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said that China's claim of indisputable sovereignty over the "West Philippine Sea" is disputable, and its "unfounded" claim and actions in the water area are irresponsible.
In response to the comment, the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday reiterated the nation's indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters, including Ren'ai Reef, while urging the Philippines to stop provocative practices at sea and groundless smears against China.
Ren'ai Reef has been China's territory since ancient times and it has never been the Philippines' territory, the ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
It is an integral part of China's Nansha Islands geographically, economically, politically and historically, which has been widely acknowledged by the international community and fully accords with provisions on archipelagos in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the statement said.
The spokesperson also rebutted the so-called South China Sea arbitration award, calling it "illegal, null and void."
It is legally untenable for the Philippines to claim that Ren'ai Reef is part of its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf based on the award, the spokesperson added.
"China once again urges the Philippines to take China's concerns seriously, stop making provocations and creating troubles at sea, and stop groundless attacks and smears, so as to avoid undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea and harming the common interests of countries in the region," the spokesperson said.
- China expels Philippine gunboat
- China drives away Philippine naval gunboat for intrusion
- China expels four Philippine vessels for illegally entering waters
- Philippine president's plane returns to base after "minor" technical problem
- Philippine durian imported to China for first time
- Interview: China’s recovery bears positively on world economy, says Philippine business leader
Popular Videos
Hot comments
- China Life: Chinese women shine with She Power
- First apes at U.S. zoo receive COVID-19 vaccine made for animals, zoo official says
- 86-year-old grandma in Hebei spends most her life on traditional cheongsam
- China-ASEAN Expo witnesses changes in tech, life over 18 years
- Homemade curling videos trending in China
- Asia is young!
- 'Escape from the British Museum' series gains online attention
- China-made cotton-padded pantyhose sweep European market
- Lantern Festival: A romantic celebration in China
- Freight train service inaugurated between Shanghai, Vientiane
Top Reviews
- China expels Philippine gunboat
- China-ASEAN Industrial Design City complete construction
- Folk festival held to celebrate harvest in Guangxi
- China's first hydrogen-powered ship makes maiden voyage in Hubei
- China land port handles over 2,500 China-Europe freight train trips
- China's rail-sea intermodal trains make 30,000 trips over past 6 years
- Former PNG Prime Minister expresses importance of China's continued role in infrastructural improvement and poverty alleviation in Pacific Islands
- Hangzhou Asiad: Going above and beyond together
- BRI: 10 years on
- BRI countries continue to facilitate trade, investment, financial integration: white paper