On the afternoon of April 9, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, stated in response to the Philippines' remarks on the South China Sea.

Zhang stated that recently, the Philippine side has intruded into the airspace over and the waters adjacent to China's Huangyan Dao and the islands and reefs of China's Nansha Qundao, deliberately charged into the exercise and training zones of the Chinese side, and even closed in on Chinese vessels in a dangerous manner. It has repeatedly committed rights-violation and harassing acts against China, increasing factors of insecurity and instability in the Asia-Pacific region. We urge the Philippine side to stop counting on external forces to stir up troubles at sea, since such a scheme will prove self-defeating and fruitless. The Chinese side remains unwavering in our resolve to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. We will continue to take resolute countermeasures against any rights-violation and provocations.

(Source: Ministry of National Defense of the P.R.C.)