China Coast Guard patrols on Tiexian Jiao, collects video evidence of Philippines' illegal activities

Law enforcement personnel of the China Coast Guard (CCG) patrolled on the Tiexian Jiao in the south China Sea in mid-April, and collected video evidence of the Philippines' illegal activities, according to the CCG.

The CCG officers also displayed the Chinese national flag on the Tiexian Jiao to declare sovereignty.

They cleared plastic bottles, sticks and other garbage left on the reef.

Since 2024, the Philippines has repeatedly attempted to send ships to the waters near China's sovereign islands and reefs in the South China Sea to monitor so-called 'sea reclamation activities.'

On Jan 24 this year, Philippine vessels 3003 and 3004 entered the waters near the Tiexian Jiao without the permission of the Chinese government. The vessels attempted to illegally land on the reef and conduct sand sampling.

Acting in accordance with law, the CCG intercepted the Philippine vessels, subjected them to control and warned them to depart.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil issued a statement on Saturday, saying that the security alert released by the U.S. Department of State regarding Venezuela is based on false claims that do not exist and is intended to create a perception of risk that is not real.

According to the statement posted on Gil's official X account, Venezuela is currently in a state of absolute calm, peace and stability.

All residential areas, transportation routes, checkpoints and security facilities in the country are functioning normally, and all armed forces nationwide are under the government's control.

The statement came after the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs on Saturday warned that as international flights have resumed, U.S. citizens in Venezuela "should leave the country immediately."