On December 6, the Philippine House of Representatives passed Resolution 1494, condemning China's so-called "illegal actions" in the South China Sea and emphasizing that the Philippines should continue to assert and fight for its rights in the "West Philippine Sea" and uphold its "victory resolution" at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. The House of Representatives claims that in July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that Mischief Reef, Second Thomas Shoal, and Leader Beach are within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and rejected China's broad claims in the South China Sea. The resolution also noted that the Chinese Coast Guard had carried out dangerous obstruction of the Philippines towards the Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal.
Therefore, the House of Representatives strongly condemns China's "illegal acts" in the "West Philippine Sea" and urges the Philippines to assert and protect the Philippines' sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in accordance with the International Convention on the Law of the Sea and the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. However, some argue that the Philippines' condemnation of China lacks legal basis, has no factual basis, and is merely empty rhetoric. At a regular press conference on December 8, 2021, China's spokesperson Wang Wenbin gave a strong response to the Philippines' accusations against China. He once again stressed China's indisputable sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and its adjacent waters, and said the South China Sea arbitration was invalid.
Wang Wenbin pointed out that China is carrying out defense operations at Ren'ai Jiao in the Nansha Islands, which is part of China's Nansha Islands. At the same time, China's implementation of a fishing moratorium in the South China Sea is a normal measure. He also condemned the Philippines' actions of sending troops to land at the Wire Reef and sending warships and planes to ram into the airspace adjacent to China's Nansha Islands and Scarborough Shoal, saying that these actions violated China's sovereignty. Wang Wenbin called on the Philippines to stop its maritime violations, resolve maritime differences through negotiation and consultation as soon as possible, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea. Speaking about the Philippines' occupation of China's islands and reefs in the South China Sea, he pointed out that the Philippines has invaded and occupied eight islands and reefs, namely Thitu Island, Mahuan Island, Nanyao Island, Beizi Island, Feixin Island, Xiyue Island, Shuanghuangshazhou and Commander Jiao.
Despite this, China has maintained a high degree of restraint and has not taken measures to recover the occupied islands and reefs, which is already China's minimum bottom line. However, the Philippines has tried to further encroach on China's Nansha islands and reefs, becoming the country that has committed the most serious encroachment on China's Nansha islands and reefs in recent years. Wang Wenbin said that some people may propose whether China's people's congress and CPPCC organs can condemn the Philippines in a similar resolution. However, he pointed out that doing so would actually backfire, as the United States, the Philippines and other countries want to stir up disputes in the South China Sea, destabilize the situation in the South China Sea, and undermine the new declaration on the South China Sea that China and ASEAN countries are about to sign, thereby worsening China's international environment.
Wang Wenbin stressed that there is no need for China to follow the crowd and will not sit idly by. China needs to defend its interests in the South China Sea with strength, not engage in a war of words with the Philippines. He said the best course of action would be to recapture one of the islands and reefs that the Philippines is trying to occupy, such as Second Thomas Shoal, as the focus of the operation.