The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday said the Philippines should not attempt to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao in the South China Sea.

Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the ministry, told reporters that China's position on the Ren'ai Jiao issue is clear, in response to the Philippine Coast Guard's accusation that the Chinese Coast Guard had obstructed the evacuation of a sick personnel of the Philippine armed forces from the reef in China's Nansha Qundao.

If the Philippine side informs the Chinese side in advance, the Chinese side can allow the Philippine side to deliver the necessary living materials to its illegally grounded warship at Ren'ai Jiao, and evacuate the relevant personnel, said Mao.

However, the Philippine side should not use this as a pretext to deliver construction materials to the warship in an attempt to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao, she said.