China lodges stern representations to Philippines over supplying Ren'ai Jiao

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong on Monday had a phone conversation with Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, and lodged stern representations to the Philippine side over its supply to the military vessel illegally grounded at Ren'ai Jiao.

Noting that the Philippines on March 23 sent two coast guard ships and one supply ship to trespass into waters off Ren'ai Jiao in an attempt to transport construction materials to its illegally grounded military vessel, Chen said it seriously violates China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, undermining regional peace and stability.

Read more: China urges the Philippines not to undermine South China Sea stability

China indisputably holds sovereignty over Nansha Qundao, including Ren'ai Jiao, and the adjacent waters, said Chen, adding that the Philippines has repeatedly made provocations on Ren'ai Jiao, which is the root cause for the escalation of tensions of the issue.

"China again urges the Philippines to abide by its commitments, stop infringements and provocations at sea, stop any unilateral move that may complicate the situation, and return to the right track of properly settling differences through negotiation and consultation with China," he said.

Chen said China will continue to take necessary measures in accordance with domestic and international laws to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Chen also expressed China's solemn position on the Philippines' advancement of the legislation on the "Maritime Zones Act."

The act approved by the Senate of the Philippines has attempted to further enforce the illegal arbitral award on the South China Sea by domestic legislation and include China's Huangyan Dao, most islands and reefs of China's Nansha Qundao, and their adjacent waters into its maritime zones, which will severely violate China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, and endanger bilateral relations, Chen said.

China again urges the Philippines to immediately stop the legislative process that undermines China's sovereignty and stop maritime infringement and provocations, he added.

(Cover: A Chinese coast guard ship is seen in the waters of the South China Sea, February 15, 2024. /CFP)