Ministry of National Defense: We Urge the Philippine Side to Immediately Withdraw Ships Illegally Stationed at Xianbin Jiao

Question: Not long ago, China Coast Guard vessels carried out tracking, monitoring and control measures against actions by the Philippines to transfer personnel and supplies to its Coast Guard ships illegally stationed at Xianbin Jiao. Later the Philippine side claimed that they could do anything they want within their exclusive economic zone. What's your comment?

Zhang Xiaogang: China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao, including Xianbin Jiao. The law enforcement operations of the Chinese side are legitimate and justified. Relevant actions of the Philippine side seriously violate China's sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), particularly Article 5. Such actions have created new tensions in the South China Sea and further undermined regional peace and stability. We urge the Philippine side to immediately withdraw its personnel and ships, and stop heading down the wrong path.