According to a release from the China Coast Guard, on December 10, a number of Philippine ships forcibly intruded into the waters near Ren'ai Jiao in China's Nansha Islands without China's approval, triggering a series of diplomatic and maritime exchanges.
It is reported that the ships sent by the Philippines this time include two coast guard vessels, one official ship and one supply vessel, which attempt to deliver supplies to the "beach"**, which is a direct violation of international law and agreements between countries in the region.
In the face of the emergency, the China Coast Guard has taken a resolute and prudent response, imposing control measures on the Kalayaan ship, which is carrying construction supplies, and making temporary special arrangements for the Yunaza May 1 boat, which is carrying food and other daily necessities.
However, at 6:39 a.m., the Philippine "Yunaza May" 1 repeatedly ignored our warnings, carried out dangerous maneuvers, and suddenly made a turn and deliberately rammed into our coast guard vessel, causing a scrape.
On October 22, the sister ship of the "Yunaza May" No. 1, which took the initiative to provoke our side, also ignored our repeated warnings, sailed in a dangerous manner, and scraped with China's coast guard law enforcement ship No. 5203.
In addition, the Ren'ai Jiao incident is the second time that the Philippines has forcibly intruded into China's waters within 24 hours, and on December 9, three Philippine fishing boats and one official ship forcibly entered the waters of China's Scarborough Shoal. China has repeatedly warned the Philippine side of its illegal acts, and when the warnings are ineffective, the Philippine vessel has been expelled in accordance with the law by lawful and compliant means.
The provocative act of the Philippines has aroused widespread concern in the international community. Gan Yu, spokesperson of the China Coast Guard, stressed that the Philippine side's actions have seriously violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and the Philippines' own commitments, seriously violated China's territorial sovereignty, and undermined regional peace and stability.
In its speech, the China Coast Guard also stressed that the China Coast Guard will continue to carry out rights protection and law enforcement activities in waters under China's jurisdiction in accordance with the law, and demanded that the Philippine side immediately stop its violations and strictly control such provocative acts.
As early as December 5, at the United Nations General Assembly, China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Geng Shuang, made a speech on the ownership of Ren'ai Jiao, refuting the erroneous remarks made by some countries about the South China Sea.
Geng Shuang pointed out that China's rights and interests in the South China Sea have been formed in the long course of history, and Ren'ai Jiao has been a part of China since ancient times, and China firmly opposes the illegal provocation of the Philippines and will take necessary measures to safeguard its maritime rights and interests and territorial sovereignty.