China urges the Philippines to immediately stop infringement on China's sovereignty and cease threatening peace and stability in the South China Sea, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday, in commenting on the recent moves of a Philippine vessel in the adjacent waters of Xianbin Reef.
"I would like to reiterate and stress that Xianbin Reef is part of China's Nansha Islands. On August 25, an official vessel of Philippines' Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, ignoring China's firm opposition and repeated dissuasion, intruded into the adjacent waters of Xianbin Reef of China's Nansha Islands, and acted dangerously by deliberately ramming the China Coast Guard vessel that was carrying out law enforcement operation. The responsibility of causing the collision fully lies with the Philippines. The China Coast Guard took necessary measures in accordance with domestic and international law. Its maneuvers at the scene were professional, restrained and appropriate," Lin Jian, the spokesman, said at a press conference in Beijing.
"For some time, the Philippines has repeatedly sent coast guard vessels and official vessels to intrude into the adjacent waters of Xianbin Reef in an attempt to send supplies to the Philippine coast guard vessel, which has been anchoring in the lagoon of Xianbin Reef for a long time, and seek long-term presence there. The Philippines' move seriously infringes on China's sovereignty, violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and threatens the peace and stability in the South China Sea. China urges the Philippines to stop the infringement and provocation activities and withdraw the vessel immediately. China will continue to take resolute measures in accordance with law to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and uphold the sanctity of the DOC," Lin said.
China urges Philippines to stop infringement on Xianbin Reef: spokesman
China urges Philippines to stop infringement on Xianbin Reef: spokesman
China urges Philippines to stop infringement on Xianbin Reef: spokesman
Fujian Province in east China has evacuated people to safe places, called back fishing boats to the wharf, and canceled passenger trains, in its emergency response to Danas, the fourth typhoon of the year.
Danas emerged on Saturday in the northeastern waters of the South China Sea and intensified from a severe tropical storm to a typhoon on Sunday morning. Now it's moving northeast towards coastal provinces in east and south China.
Fujian has upgraded its typhoon emergency response to level III, the second lowest in China's four-tier natural disaster emergency response system, with level I being the highest and level IV the lowest.
In Dongshan County, a key fishing hub in Fujian, all of 8,773 fishing vessels returned to port on Sunday, with over 1,640 marine aquaculture producers having been evacuated ashore.
Fishermen across the county's fishing ports have raced against time to transport their catches ashore to the market before Typhoon Danas makes landfall.
In offshore aquaculture areas of Dongshan's Tongling Town, local government and fishery officials inspected every sampan and assisted fishermen with reinforcement efforts.
"We have deployed six teams, three to inspect the sampans and another three stationed at the docks, to monitor fishing vessels entering and exiting the harbor," said Lin Tiankui, deputy head of Tongling Town.
The county has implemented round-the-clock monitoring at critical locations, including fishing ports and docks, with officials taking shifts to guard against the typhoon.
In Fujian's Ningde City, comprehensive operations against the typhoon are also underway.
On Sunday afternoon, local officials helped fishermen in the coastal towns of Fu'an, a county-level city in Fujian, strengthen floating sampans and fasten fishing nets while organizing the evacuation of personnel.
"All the121 registered fishing vessels of Xiabaishi Town have been called back to harbors. All fishermen have returned ashore to our designated shelters, where we've stockpiled ample disaster relief supplies," said Liu Shusheng, captain of the comprehensive law enforcement brigade in Xiabaishi Town, Fu'an City.
As of Sunday afternoon, all 34,669 fishing vessels across Ningde City had been secured in safe locations. A total of 2,404 shelters with sufficient rescue equipment and essential living supplies have been prepared in the city.
Before the typhoon's landing, transportation networks in Fujian are also taking decisive action.
China Railway Nanchang Group initiated a Level III emergency response on Sunday, suspending multiple passenger routes across Fujian Province starting Monday morning.
Passengers affected by the cancellations can be fully refunded within 30 days of their original travel date, according to the company.
Local railway authorities in Ningde have taken comprehensive precautions, including clearing track drainage systems, inspecting roadside hazards such as unstable billboards and trees, and conducting 24-hour monitoring at flood-prone zones, particularly tunnel entrances.
To ensure traveler safety, coastal railway stations across Fujian Province have stockpiled emergency supplies and deployed additional staff to guide passengers at escalators and key passageways.
Passengers were advised to check for updates through China's official railway ticket-booking platform 12306 to plan their journeys accordingly, as service adjustments will be made in real time depending on weather conditions.
Fujian gets ready for Typhoon Danas
