Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Monday urged the Philippines to immediately cease its infringement, provocations and vilification, stop its endless self-directed stunts at sea, and refrain from challenging China's firm resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and rights and interests. 

Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to comments by the U.S. about assisting the Philippines in the South China Sea. He said that Xianbin Jiao is part of China’s Nansha Qundao, over which China has indisputable sovereignty, including Xianbin Jiao and its adjacent waters.

On December 12, the Philippines has taken organized and orchestrated moves to send a large number of ships to make provocations and create trouble in the waters off Xianbin Jiao and intruded into the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao. The Philippines’ so-called fishing ships, despite China’s repeated dissuasion and warning, have deliberately anchored in the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao and repeatedly conducted dangerous maneuvers including veering suddenly off course. The Philippine personnel even threatened China Coast Guard officers with knives who were carrying out rights-defending law enforcement activities, according to Guo at the press briefing.

Guo stressed that the Philippines’ moves seriously infringe upon China’s sovereignty and rights and interests, violate international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and sabotage maritime peace and stability. It is legitimate, lawful, professional, restrained and beyond reproach for China to do what is necessary to safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. The Philippines needs to immediately stop its infringement, provocations and vilification, stop its endless self-directed stunts at sea, and refrain from challenging China’s firm resolve to safeguard our sovereignty and rights and interests.

Responding to the U.S. State Department’s statement that it would stand with the Philippines to confront what it called China’s “provocative actions and increasingly dangerous tactics,” Guo said the U.S. is not a party to the South China Sea issue and has no right to interfere in maritime matters between the countries concerned.

He added that the U.S. should stop making fact-distorting and provocative remarks, and cease abetting and supporting the Philippines in creating trouble in the South China Sea.

（Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China）