On the afternoon of 29 February, the Ministry of National Defense held a regular press conference, at which Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, deputy director of the Information Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense and spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense, answered questions from reporters.
Reporter:Recently, the Philippines and the United States held joint maritime exercises and joint air patrols in the South China Sea, and the Southern Theater of the Chinese People's Liberation Army organized naval and air patrols in the South China Sea at the same time, and the Philippine side claimed that it would not back down on maritime claims. A spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard claimed that the Chinese vessel violated the International Rules for Avoiding Collisions at Sea by approaching Philippine Coast Guard vessels patrolling Scarborough Shoal in close proximity. Do you have any comment on this?
Zhang Xiaogang:Recently, the Philippines has enlisted foreign countries to disrupt the South China Sea, organized so-called "joint military exercises" and "joint patrols" and publicly hyped them, which seriously violated the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, jeopardized regional peace and stability, and ran counter to the efforts of regional countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. It should be stressed that the US is not a party to the South China Sea issue, and should abide by its commitment not to take a position on the South China Sea issue, and stop meddling in and causing trouble.
The Philippine side's remarks are purely confusing right and wrong and maliciously hyped up. Philippine coast guard vessels have repeatedly illegally intruded into the waters adjacent to China's Huangyan Island, and the Chinese side has taken measures such as warning and driving away and controlling shipping routes in accordance with the law, and the on-site handling of the situation is reasonable, lawful, professional and restrained. China has indisputable sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal and its adjacent waters. We urge the Philippines not to insist on going its own way and causing trouble, and China will continue to carry out rights protection and law enforcement actions in the waters under its jurisdiction to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
The South China Sea is the common home of all countries in the region. China is committed to managing differences through dialogue and consultation with the countries concerned. The squadron has always been ready for all infringements and provocations, resolutely countered them, and resolutely defended territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
*: Ministry of Defense Network
Editor in charge: Ye Mengyuan.