Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Mao Ning said that China took the necessary measures in accordance with the law and the country’s operations were ‘professional, restrained, justified and legal.’
The spokeswoman stressed Beijing’s ‘indisputable sovereignty’ over Nansha Qundao and its adjacent waters, including Ren’ai Jiao, which Manila claims as its own.
She asserted that this sovereignty is established in a long history and in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Charter.
Mao defended the measures taken by the Chinese Coast Guard against the ‘infringing and provocative actions’ of Philippine vessels in Ren’ai Jiao.
She stressed that the responsibility for the incident lies entirely with the Philippines and urged the country to stop such behavior in the South Sea immediately.
The spokeswoman reaffirmed China’s commitment to properly address the disputes through talks and consultation with the parties involved.
She also expressed the desire to work with the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) fully and safeguard peace and stability in the region.
Mao criticized the US State Department’s statements on this development and in particular, rejected its threat to resort to Washington’s Mutual Defense Treaty with Manila to back the actions by the Philippines.
The Chinese diplomat urged the US not to use the Philippines to destabilize the South China Sea.
The spokeswoman warned the Philippines against US manipulation and in this regard, and recalled historic lessons on ‘the fate of puppets in international conflicts.’
On March 5, two supply ships and two Philippine Coast Guard vessels, without permission from the Chinese Government, entered the adjacent waters of Ren’ai Jiao in the Nansha Archipelago.
The vessels attempted to send materials, including construction materials, to the illegally grounded vessel in Ren’ai Jiao, whereupon the Chinese Coast Guard took action to prevent this incursion and the actions ended in a collision.
This incident fuels tensions between the two countries, whose relations have deteriorated markedly since a president in favor of the alliance with the United States came to office in Manila.
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