Compatriots across the Taiwan Strait have the unshirkable duty to jointly safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, Chen Xi, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense said at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.
The China Coast Guard (CCG) conducted law enforcement patrols in the relevant waters earlier in June after Japan and the Philippines unilaterally announced the launch of maritime delimitation negotiations in the waters east of China's Taiwan Island.
The CCG's patrols are fully justified and necessary, Chen said in response to media reports that Taiwan's defense affairs authorities described the patrols as "a provocative act" and "cognitive warfare".
"Taiwan is part of China, and China has an exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in waters east of the Taiwan Island. The China Coast Guard's law enforcement patrols are legitimate, necessary, and brook no interference. Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China and it is the bounden duty of compatriots on both sides to jointly safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. But Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities not only responded passively [to Japan and the Philippines' provocative actions], but also distorted the facts and acted retrogressively. Such behavior, which betrays its roots, is utterly despicable," Chen said.
Compatriots across Taiwan Strait have duty to safeguard national sovereignty, maritime rights: spokesman
