China urges the Philippines to immediately stop infringement on China’s sovereignty and cease threatening peace and stability in the South China Sea, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday, in commenting on the recent moves of a Philippine vessel in the adjacent waters of Xianbin Reef.

“I would like to reiterate and stress that Xianbin Reef is part of China’s Nansha Islands. On August 25, an official vessel of Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, ignoring China’s firm opposition and repeated dissuasion, intruded into the adjacent waters of Xianbin Reef of China’s Nansha Islands, and acted dangerously by deliberately ramming the China Coast Guard vessel that was carrying out law enforcement operation. The responsibility of causing the collision fully lies with the Philippines. The China Coast Guard took necessary measures in accordance with domestic and international law. Its maneuvers at the scene were professional, restrained and appropriate,” Lin Jian, the spokesman, said at a press conference in Beijing.

“For some time, the Philippines has repeatedly sent coast guard vessels and official vessels to intrude into the adjacent waters of Xianbin Reef in an attempt to send supplies to the Philippine coast guard vessel, which has been anchoring in the lagoon of Xianbin Reef for a long time, and seek long-term presence there. The Philippines’ move seriously infringes on China’s sovereignty, violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and threatens the peace and stability in the South China Sea. China urges the Philippines to stop the infringement and provocation activities and withdraw the vessel immediately. China will continue to take resolute measures in accordance with law to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and uphold the sanctity of the DOC,” Lin said.

(CCTV +)