Photo courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Beijing, China - The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, said that it was the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) that intruded without Chinese permission. This follows the statement of the PCG where it claims that military lasers were used against PCG personnel during a patrol in the disputed waters.

“The Ren’ai Reef is part of China’s Nansha Islands,” Wenbin insisted. Wenbin also emphasized that China has always attached great importance to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. He stated that the Chinese Coast Guard strictly abides by international law and relevant agreements, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“We hope the Philippine side will respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea and avoid taking any actions that may exacerbate disputes and complicate the situation. China and the Philippines are in communication on this through diplomatic channels,” he added.