Disregarding warnings from the Chinese side, a Philippine vessel, the Unaiza May 1, makes an unprofessional and dangerous turn, and intentionally rams into a China Coast Guard ship in waters off China's Ren'ai Reef in the South China Sea on December 10, 2023. Photo: Screenshot from a video clip obtained by the Global Times

Facing provocations from the Philippines and the US during the Spring Festival holidays, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the China Coast Guard (CCG) did not let their guards down, took effective measures, and firmly defended China's sovereign security and maritime rights in the South China Sea, experts said on Saturday.

In a statement issued on February 9, the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, the PLA Southern Theater Command said it had organized naval and air forces to conduct a routine patrol in waters of the South China Sea on the day.

While the PLA Southern Theater Command did not elaborate on the background of its statement, the Reuters reported that the Philippines and the US on the same day conducted their third joint maritime exercises in the South China Sea since November 2023, amid the Philippines' repeated provocations over China's islands and reefs in the region.

The PLA Southern Theater Command said its troops had maintained high alert at all times in order to firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and maritime rights and interests.

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on February 9 that the PLA Southern Theater Command's announcement of its operation served as a warning to certain countries that bear ill intentions and are attempting to take advantage of the Spring Festival - China's traditional holidays.

No matter what occasion it is, the PLA will not let its guard down, and will respond to any situations that might occur on China's doorstep, Zhang said.

The same readiness applies to the CCG, observers said.

From February 2 to 9, the Philippine Coast Guard Ship 9701 repeatedly trespassed into the waters adjacent to China's Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island) ignoring verbal warnings from the CCG, and the CCG took route control and repelling measures in accordance with the law, CCG spokesperson Gan Yu said in a statement issued on February 11, stressing that the CCG's on-site operations were professional and up to standard.

Then on Thursday, Ship 3005 of the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources trespassed into the waters adjacent to China's Huangyan Dao, and the CCG again took similar measures after verbal warnings went ignored, Gan said in a statement on the day.

In both cases, Gan reiterated that China has indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Dao and its adjacent waters, and the CCG consistently conducts law enforcement activities in waters under China's jurisdiction, resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Ding Duo, deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at the China Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times that the Philippines intentionally stirred up troubles during China's Spring Festival holidays, but the CCG's law enforcement activities did not let the Philippines achieve its goals.

The Philippines' moves only further reduced mutual trust, sabotaged the political atmosphere, and even impacted the Chinese general public's views on the Philippines, Ding said.

On Wednesday, the Philippines' Senate approved an amendment that would allow the Philippine government to lay claim to "any man-made feature that falls within its exclusive economic zone," including at least three Chinese reefs in the Nansha Islands, Newsweek reported on Thursday.

Instigated and supported by the US, the Philippines has continually made provocations against China in the South China Sea since 2023, with the Philippines aiming to permanently seize Chinese islands and reefs, throwing mud at China over its legitimate law enforcement activities, and the US aiming to contain China's development and reinforcing its military encirclement on China at the southern section of the first island chain, military experts reached by the Global Times said on Saturday.

As a force from outside of the region, the US is sabotaging peace and stability in the South China Sea for its own interests, at the cost of the interests of all countries within the region, including the Philippines, experts pointed out.

China is taking forceful measures to safeguard its rights, but it is also making efforts through various other means to encourage the Philippines to return to the right track of dialogue in managing disputes and avoiding escalations, experts said.