China's ocean research activities serve peaceful purposes, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Thursday, responding to a media query about China sending seabed research ship (Xiang Hang Hong 06) close to "the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Japan's Minamitorishima island" in the Pacific Ocean in recent years.
"China's ocean research activities serve peaceful purposes. They are in strict compliance with relevant regulations of international law and aimed at improving humanity's scientific knowledge of the ocean and contributing to the overall wellbeing of the international community," said Lin.
In response to a question about Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning entering "the EEZ of Minamitorishima in June last year", Lin said: "China follows a defensive national defense policy. Chinese military vessels' activities in relevant waters are fully consistent with international law and international practice."
China's ocean research activities serve peaceful purposes: foreign ministry
About 100 people died during a mass border crossing into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta last week, Ceuta President Juan Jesus Vivas told an extraordinary meeting of the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on Thursday.
Vivas said about 80,000 people entered Ceuta, nearly 75,000 of whom subsequently returned voluntarily.
Between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remain in the enclave, leaving reception centers overwhelmed and creating a severe humanitarian emergency, he said, calling for stronger security, more reception resources and greater support from EU agencies.
European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner described the influx which involved a number of people roughly equivalent to Ceuta's entire population as "incredible".
"Nothing on this scale has happened at any EU external border in 20 years, not in a single day," Brunner told the meeting, stressing that the EU could not accept such a breach of the integrity of its external borders or a violation of the security of the Union.
Brunner said the EU should use all the leverage at its disposal, including visa policy and, more broadly, trade and development aid, to secure Morocco's cooperation on migration.
100 deaths in mass border crossing into Spain's Ceuta: local leader
