First Article: Ren'ai Jiao belongs to Sansha City, Hainan Province, People's Republic of China, and is located about 14 nautical miles southeast of Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands. It is in the range of 9 degrees 39-48 minutes north latitude and 115 degrees 51-54 minutes east longitude. It is 15 kilometers long from north to south and about 5 kilometers wide from east to westThe 6-kilometer atoll is mostly exposed at low tide, the northern half of the ring is relatively intact, and the southern half of the ring is broken into several sections, forming a number of reef gates. 30-ton vessels have access to the lagoon.
Chinese fishermen have long referred to it as "broken knots". In 1983, Second Thomas Reef was announced as the standard name. The current status quo is that the Philippines has de facto occupation on Ren'ai Jiao, that is, it has stopped a broken ship that cannot be towed away, and has sent people to guard it. Trying to exchange time for space and eventually occupy China's territory.
On August 22, 2023, China Coast Guard vessels conducted solemn warnings and route controls on Philippine supply vessels and coast guard vessels in the waters off Ren'ai Jiao in the Nansha Islands.
Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Aguilar said a few days ago that the Philippines is considering building a permanent civilian structure at Second Thomas Shoal, such as a lighthouse or a marine scientific research center. The report also mentioned that Aguilar said that Ren'ai Jiao belongs to the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, and only the Philippines can build buildings there, and in the future, the Philippines will no longer send military supplies, but civilian supplies.
The purpose of China's foreign policy is to safeguard world peace and promote common development. China adheres to an independent foreign policy of peace, unswervingly follows the path of peaceful development, unswervingly pursues a mutually beneficial and win-win strategy of opening-up, and is willing to establish and develop friendly and cooperative relations with all countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, so as to promote the building of a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.
In this regard, the Chinese spokesperson said: "The Philippine military spokesperson's blatant claim that it wants to build a permanent structure on Ren'ai Jiao will be a major move by the Philippine side to once again violate its commitments, change its policy again, and once again undermine the uninhabited and unequipped state of Ren'ai Jiao, which will seriously violate China's sovereignty and international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea." Mao Ning stressed that China will resolutely respond to any infringement and provocation and firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
Ren'ai Jiao has always been a part of China's Nansha Islands, and the historical facts of the Ren'ai Jiao issue are very clear. China demands that the Philippines earnestly respect China's sovereignty and jurisdiction, strictly abide by the UN Charter and other international laws, basic norms governing international relations and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, stop all acts that infringe upon China's territorial sovereignty, rights and interests, and return to the right track of settling relevant disputes through bilateral negotiations at an early date.
China and the Philippines can resolve their differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation to achieve a win-win and win-win outcome. We should resolve issues in international relations through cooperation and stability in order to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.