Question: Recently, China Coast Guard obstructed the Philippines' resupply to Ren'ai Jiao. What's your comment?
Embassy Spokesperson：On 23 March, the Philippines, breaching its own words and in disregard of China’s strong opposition and warning in advance, sent one supply vessel and two Coast Guard vessels to intrude into the adjacent waters of Ren’ai Jiao of China’s Nansha Qundao, attempting to transport construction materials to the illegally grounded warship for its repair and reinforcement in order to establish a permanent military post and achieve long-term illegal occupation. China Coast Guard in response conducted lawful regulation, interception and expulsion, successfully thwarting the Philippines’ plot. China’s handling of the situation was reasonable, lawful, professional and standard.
Nansha Qundao, including Ren’ai Jiao, has always been China’s territory. The scope of Philippine territory is defined by several international treaties. China’s Nansha Qundao lies beyond the limits of the Philippine territory. The Philippines tries to hide the fact that it has broken its promise to China, violated China’s sovereignty and kept provoking China. This is reason behind the Philippines’ string of false accusations against China.
The truth on the Ren’ai Jiao issue is that the Philippines went back on its words. It made a serious pledge to tow away its illegally grounded warship, but 25 years on, the vessel is still there.
The Philippines breached the understanding between the two sides on properly handling the situation on Ren’ai Jiao. The Philippines promised it will not reinforce the grounded warship and will inform China in advance of resupply plans. Out of humanitarian considerations, China made special provisional arrangements for Philippine vessels sending living necessities to the warship quite a few times. However, the Philippines refused to honor its promise and made repeated attempts to send construction materials for large-scale repair and reinforcement of the warship in order to build permanent structures on Ren’ai Jiao.
The Philippines violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) jointly signed by China and ASEAN countries. Article 5 of the DOC stipulates that the Parties undertake to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability including, among others, refraining from action of inhabiting on the presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features. Ren’ai Jiao is uninhabited. Parties should maintain its state of hosting zero personnel and facilities. Most recently, however, the Philippine military spokesperson openly vowed to build permanent structures on Ren’ai Jiao. The Philippines has also repeatedly sent people to step on China’s Tiexian Jiao and other uninhabited islands and reefs that belong to China in the South China Sea, which seriously contravenes the principles of the DOC.
The Philippines, backed by external forces, has been going back on its words and making provocations. This is the real cause of the current tensions at sea. Nothing will hide the truth, and no one should turn black into white. The Philippines needs to immediately stop violating China’s sovereignty and its provocations, and return to observing the spirit of the DOC. China will not waver in its resolve to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
