The Chinese Navy and China Coast Guard (CCG) will defend national sovereignty and guarantee peace in the South China Sea, said a defense spokesperson on Thursday.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Jiang Bin, the spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to the claim made by a spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard that China should respect the so-called "Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone."
"On Jan 22, a Singapore-registered cargo ship en route from the Philippines to China capsized in the waters near Huangyan Dao. CCG's vessels Dongsha and Sanmen as well as Chinese Navy's vessel Dali promptly rushed to the accident site to carry out humanitarian rescue operations. Seventeen Filipino crew members, who had fallen into the water, were rescued and provided with food, medical checkups, and rest areas. The Chinese side handed them over to the Philippine side on Jan 25 and the Philippine side expressed gratitude for this. However, certain Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson blatantly used this humanitarian act as a tool for malicious propaganda, which is utterly mean and shameful," Jiang said.
"Life is invaluable and love knows no bounds. The Chinese Navy and CCG are not only defenders of sovereignty but also guardians of peace. They will continue to resolutely fulfill their duties of safeguarding China's maritime territory and make concrete efforts to uphold a maritime community with a shared future, contributing more to building the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation," he continued.
Chinese navy, coast guard are defenders of sovereignty, peace in South China Sea
