China firmly rejects the Philippines' acts of infringement and provocation near China's Ren'ai Jiao, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.
Lin made the remarks when responding to a media inquiry regarding an incident on Monday that Philippine personnel from an illegally grounded vessel aggressively harassed a small China Coast Guard (CCG) patrol boat near Ren'ai Jiao.
After the incident, the Philippine side distorted facts and made false accusations against China, which the CCG said was a blatant reversal of right and wrong.
"China Coast Guard vessel was conducting routine law enforcement activity near China's Ren’ai Jiao on July 20 when two boats from the illegally grounded Philippine warship deliberately closed in and rammed into the CCG vessel in a dangerous manner and violently attacked the Chinese personnel on board, forcing them to react firmly yet lawfully. After the incident, the Philippines distorted facts, falsely accused the Chinese side, and spread disinformation. China strongly deplores and firmly rejects the Philippines’ moves," Lin said.
Lin also reiterated China's three-point principled position on managing the situation at Ren'ai Jiao.
"In July 2024, on the basis of a three-point principled position, China reached provisional arrangement with the Philippines on humanitarian resupply of living necessities involving Ren'ai Jiao. China's position remains unchanged. Let me briefly reiterate the three points. First, by keeping its warship grounded at Ren'ai Jiao for decades running, the Philippines has been violating China's sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. We continue to demand that the Philippines tow away the warship illegally grounded at Rei'ai Jiao and restore Ren'ai Jiao's state of hosting no personnel or facilities. Second, between now and when the warship is towed away, in a humanitarian spirit, China is willing to allow the Philippines to send living necessities to the personnel living on the warship if the Philippines informs China in advance and after on-site verification is conducted. China will monitor the entire resupply process. Third, if the Philippines were to attempt to build fixed facilities or permanent outpost, China will absolutely not accept it and will resolutely stop it in accordance with the law and regulations," he said.
China rejects Philippines' acts of infringement, provocations near Ren'ai Jiao: spokesman
China rejects Philippines' acts of infringement, provocations near Ren'ai Jiao: spokesman
