Recently, the Philippines has carried out provocative acts near *** islands and reefs in the South China Sea for two consecutive days, invading the adjacent waters of Scarborough Shoal and Ren'ai Jiao respectively, and using official vessels of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Bureau in an attempt to interfere with the normal law enforcement activities of the Chinese Coast Guard. The China Coast Guard implemented control measures in accordance with the law, drove away and warned the Philippine vessel, and resolutely retaliated when the Philippine side deliberately rammed the Chinese Coast Guard vessel, safeguarding China's sovereignty and security.
On December 9, three official vessels of the Philippine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Agency, namely the Yunaza May 1, Yunaza May 2 and Yunaza May 3, entered the waters adjacent to China's Huangyan Island without authorization and harassed and provoked the Chinese Coast Guard 21556 boat. The 21556 Chinese Coast Guard boat drove away and warned the Philippine vessel in accordance with the law, demanding that it immediately leave China's territorial waters. Instead of heeding the dissuasion, the Philippine vessels stepped up their harassment in an attempt to obstruct the normal law enforcement activities of the Chinese Coast Guard. The China Coast Guard 21556 boat has taken effective control measures to safeguard the sovereignty and security of China's Scarborough Shoal.
On December 10, the Philippine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Agency's "Yunaza May" No. 1 ship brazenly entered the waters near China's Ren'ai Jiao and launched an even more rampant provocation against the Chinese coast guard boat 21556. The 21556 boat of the China Coast Guard once again drove away and warned the Philippine vessel in accordance with the law, demanding that it immediately stop its illegal acts and leave China's territorial waters. The Philippine vessel turned a deaf ear and violated the International Rules for Avoiding Collisions at Sea by making a sudden turn in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, deliberately ramming the Chinese Coast Guard Boat 21556, resulting in a scrape. The 21556 China Coast Guard boat resolutely fought back, effectively stopped and punished the Philippine vessel, and safeguarded China's sovereignty and security.
The Philippines' provocative actions in the South China Sea have seriously violated China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, undermined China's maritime rights and interests, undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea, violated the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and are a flagrant challenge to international law and order. The China Coast Guard's control and retaliation against Philippine vessels in accordance with the law demonstrated China's determination and capability, safeguarded China's sovereignty and security, and safeguarded peace and stability in the South China Sea.
China is a major littoral state in the South China Sea, as well as a peacebuilder and maintainer of stability in the South China Sea. China firmly upholds its sovereignty, rights and interests in the South China Sea, as well as peace and cooperation in the South China Sea, and is willing to work with all parties in the South China Sea to properly handle the South China Sea issue through dialogue and consultation, advance consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and build a good atmosphere for peace and stability in the South China Sea. China urges the Philippines to respect China's sovereignty, rights and interests, abide by international law and rules, stop its provocative acts in the South China Sea, and stop doing anything that undermines bilateral relations and regional peace. The China Coast Guard will continue to perform its duties in accordance with the law, resolutely defend China's sovereignty and security, and resolutely safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.