China Coast Guard warns after intrusion by Philippine vessels
Ten Philippine coast guard and government vessels, along with several unidentified ships, intruded into the territorial waters near China's Huangyan Island and the vicinity of Xianbin Reef in the Nansha Islands on Wednesday, the China Coast Guard said on Thursday.
In a statement, Liu Dejun, spokesman for the CCG, said that despite repeated warnings and dissuasions from China, the Philippines dispatched four coast guard ships and six government vessels to carry out the intrusion.
He said that the CCG took necessary control measures against the Philippine vessels in accordance with the law, and that their on-site actions were "professional, legitimate, and lawful".
Liu noted that during the incident, Philippine vessels repeatedly approached dangerously and deliberately collided with CCG ships in the waters off Huangyan Island and Xianbin Reef, causing scratches and bumps.
He stressed that the responsibility for these actions lies entirely with the Philippine side, criticizing the Philippines for distorting facts, making false accusations, and spreading misinformation in an attempt to mislead international perception.
The spokesman said that the actions of the Philippine side seriously infringed on China's territorial sovereignty, severely violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and seriously undermined regional peace and stability.
The Chinese side once again sternly warns the Philippines side to immediately cease all provocative and infringing activities and to stop spreading false information, he said.
Liu warned that the CCG remains on high alert at all time and will continue to carry out rights protection and law enforcement activities in China's jurisdictional waters in accordance with the law, resolutely safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and maintaining regional maritime security and order.