Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Philippines’ act to run aground a warship at Ren’ai Jiao is an illegal act in itself. It is unacceptable that the Philippines repeatedly provokes, exacerbates tensions, and escalates the situation, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday, in response to Philippine military officials denying that personnel on a grounded Philippine warship pointed guns in the direction of the China Coast Guard (CCG) previously.

The Philippines conducted an air drop to supply the illegally grounded warship at Ren’ai Jiao on May 19. At least two individuals on a grounded Philippine military vessel pointed guns toward a CCG team patrolling waters off Ren’ai Jiao on May 19, according to footage released by CGTN.

A screenshot from the footage released by CGTN

A screenshot from the footage released by CGTN

Philippine military officials denied the allegations on Tuesday. They said that Philippine troops stationed on a warship grounded in South China Sea held on to their weapons after CCG boats came close to the ship but they did not point their guns at them, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

In response, Mao said that regarding the situation at Ren’ai Jiao, China has repeatedly clarified its position. The Philippines is the party that is constantly infringing on China’s rights and provoking conflicts. China demands the Philippines keep to its promises and not stir conflict, Mao said.

A source close to the matter told the Global Times that without China’s permission, the Philippines made an air-drop supply sortie to its illegally grounded military warship at Ren’ai Jiao on May 19. The CCG lawfully inspected the supplies. The Philippines’ claims of “CCG seizing their airdropped supplies” are aimed at diverting pressure from public opinion and misleading international society.

Regarding how to handle this issue, China has repeatedly stated its principles and positions. We hope that the Philippines will stop making conflicts, but instead return to the correct track of resolving differences through dialogue and negotiation, Mao said.

Global Times