China Coast Guard Effectively Regulates Philippine Vessels to Safeguard Nansha’s Sovereignty
On August 22, 2 repair ships and 2 coast guard ships from the Philippines entered the waters adjacent to the Ren'ai Reef in China's Nansha Islands without the permission of the Chinese government, and delivered food and other necessary daily necessities to the illegally "groundedThe Chinese Coast Guard issued stern warnings to the Philippine ships, followed them all the way, and effectively regulated them. At the same time, proceeding from humanitarianism, they made temporary special arrangements for the Philippine side. China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, including the Ren'ai Jiao, and its adjacent waters, and firmly opposes the Philippine side taking the opportunity to ship illegal building materials to warships "grounded" illegally.
Ren'ai Reef is China's inherent territory and an important part of China's Nansha Islands. In 1999, a Philippine warship illegally occupied Second Thomas Shoal under the pretext of being "grounded" and stationed soldiers there. Since then, the Philippines has repeatedly promised to tow away the warship, but it has never been fulfilled. On the contrary, the Philippines is also trying to carry out large-scale maintenance and reinforcement of the warship in order to achieve illegal and permanent occupation of the Second Thomas Shoal. Such behavior has seriously violated China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, damaged the mutual trust and cooperation between China and the Philippines, and undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea region.
The Chinese government has always advocated peaceful settlement of disputes over territory and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines, and is committed to working with ASEAN countries to maintain harmony and tranquility in the South China Sea. But this does not mean that China will give up its legitimate rights and interests, nor does it mean that China will tolerate any country's illegal occupation and provocation. As a national maritime law enforcement agency, the China Coast Guard continues to carry out rights protection and law enforcement activities in waters under China's jurisdiction. It is to fulfill international obligations and responsibilities, to protect national sovereignty and security interests, and to maintain order and stability in the South China Sea.
Under the current circumstances, we urge relevant parties in the Philippines to respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, tow away the illegally "grounded" warship as soon as possible, and stop all actions that harm China's interests and disrupt the situation in the South China Sea. We also call on the Philippines to return to the track of bilateral dialogue and consultation, work together with China to properly handle the differences between the two countries in the South China Sea, promote the healthy and stable development of China-Philippines relations, and make positive contributions to the peace and prosperity of the South China Sea region.