The amphibious dock landing ships Wuzhishan (Hull 987), Kunlunshan (Hull 998) and Changbaishan (Hull 989) attached to a landing ship flotilla with the navy under the PLA Southern Theater Command steam alongside in waters of the South China Sea during a maritime training exercise on November 18, 2020. The exercise lasted four days, focusing on 10 subjects including comprehensive defense, Landing Craft Air Cushion's (LCAC) transfer, visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operation, and live-fire operations. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Liu Jian)

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MOD) on Sunday vowed to take resolute measures against the Philippines should it continue to challenge China's bottom line, with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) announcing a combat exercise was conducted recently in the South China Sea.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, an MOD spokesperson, said in a statement on Sunday that the Philippines broke its promises and is vainly attempting to fortify its illegally grounded warship on Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef) into a permanent facility, a move that China will by no means sit by and watch.

Demanding the Philippines to stop all infringing and provocative moves, Wu warned that if the Philippines repeatedly challenges China's bottom line, China will continue to take resolute measures to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.

Wu's remarks came after the China Coast Guard (CCG) on Saturday repelled a Philippine attempt to reinforce the illegally grounded Philippine warship on China's Ren'ai Jiao in the South China Sea.

The CCG completely intercepted the Philippines' cargo ship using water cannon, according to an on-site video the Global Times obtained from the CCG.

The PLA Southern Theater Command on Sunday said in a press release that a naval landing ship detachment recently conducted a multi-course, highly intensive combat exercise in the South China Sea featuring the PLANS (PLA Navy Ship) Wuzhishan and Changbaishan.

According to photos attached to the press release and the publicly available information, the PLANS Wuzhishan and Changbaishan are Type 071 comprehensive landing ships.

China Central Television reported previously that the Type 071 has a displacement of about 20,000 tons and can act as a beach assault base by sending armored vehicles and hovercraft at an optimal landing distance.

Facing the Philippines' repeated provocations on Chinese islands and reefs, China has exercised restraint and deployed reciprocal countermeasures, namely the law enforcement forces from the coast guard, but not the navy, a Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Sunday.

However, if the Philippines escalates the situation, brings its armed forces or even forces from outside the region into the equation, the PLA is always ready to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, the expert said.

The PLA Navy, Air Force and the CCG recently held a joint exercise, which analysts said displayed their interoperability.

China is willing to resolve the disputes through talks, and had made temporary special arrangements under humanitarian considerations that allowed necessary living materials to be supplied to the Philippines' illegally grounded warship, observers said, urging the Philippines to return to the right track of dialogues.

The Philippines should notify China about its resupply operations, and the CCG will conduct verification of the materials to be carried by the Philippine vessels, 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 on Sunday.

But China only allows such necessary living materials, with no building materials allowed to reinforce the hull or build permanent facilities, Ding said.