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
The Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said that the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked since Saturday evening and will not reopen until the United States lifts its naval blockade on the waterway.
In a statement carried by its official news outlet Sepah News, the IGRC said that the move came after the United States violated its commitments under the two-week ceasefire, which took effect on April 8, and failed to end its naval blockade against Iranian vessels and ports.
The IRGC Navy called on all vessels and their owners to follow official updates via its channel and VHF Channel 16, the international maritime distress, safety, and calling frequency. The statements by U.S. President Donald Trump hold no credibility in the strait and the Gulf, it added.
The IRGC warned that no vessel should move from its anchorage in the Gulf or the Gulf of Oman, and any approach to the strait would be deemed "cooperation with the enemy" and targeted accordingly.
Tehran's political leadership echoed the IRGC's firm position. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf asserted that the Strait of Hormuz is under Iran's control, revealing that during previous negotiations, Iran had firmly countered U.S. attempts to carry out minesweeping operations, which Tehran viewed as a ceasefire violation.
He said the situation had come close to conflict, but the U.S. had eventually backed off.
Calling the U.S. maritime blockade "reckless and ignorant," Ghalibaf warned that passage through the strait would certainly be restricted if Washington does not lift the blockade.
Underpinning these public announcements, Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Saturday affirmed the country's resolve to exercise control and supervision over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz until the war is definitively ended and lasting peace is achieved in the region.
For its part, the United States pressed ahead with its own military measures.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on Saturday that the U.S. military is imposing a maritime blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports and nearby coastal areas. Since the blockade began on April 13, 23 ships have complied with U.S. directions to turn around.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military is preparing in the coming days to board Iran-linked oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters, The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing U.S. officials.
The move will enable the U.S. to take control of Iran-linked vessels around the world, including ships carrying Iranian oil that are already sailing outside the Persian Gulf and those carrying arms that could support Tehran, the report said.
Iran's IRGC says Strait of Hormuz blocked, demands end to US naval blockade
