Photo: Courtesy of China Coast Guard

China Coast Guard (CCG) has taken restrictive measures against Philippine vessels after the Philippine coast guard dispatched boats to illegally land on islets of Xianbin Jiao, or Xianbin Reef, in South China Sea, the Global Times learned from the CCG.

According to video clips obtained by the Global Times on Friday, after the Philippine vessel intruded into waters near Xianbin Jiao in an attempt to release small boats to illegally operate on the sandbars, CCG warned them in both Chinese and English, and reiterated China's indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao, or Nansha Islands, including Xianbin Jiao, and their adjacent waters. The CCG took restrictive measures against the Philippine vessels in line with the law.

It is reported that the Philippine side denied that its soldiers pointed guns at CCG vessels, claiming that personnel stationed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre only held on to their weapons to defend themselves. The Philippines also claimed that there had been small-scale reclamation at Xianbin Jiao and that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently sent a hovercraft and an aircraft to conduct exercises in the waters around Xianbin Jiao.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said on Friday in response to the Philippine provocations that Nansha Qundao, including Ren'ai Jiao and Xianbin Jiao, is China's inherent territory, and it is legitimate and reasonable for China to carry out law enforcement activities in waters under Chinese jurisdiction.

China has made clear its principles and position on this multiple times, Zhang said. In fact, it is the Philippines that has broken its promises, played with fire and escalated tensions through its provocations, even cooking up and spreading disinformation about Xianbin Jiao in an attempt to cover up its infringements and provocations, he added.

Such acts are those of a thief crying "stop thief" and fully show that the Philippines is undoubtedly the one undermining peace and creating instability, Zhang said, adding that China remains highly vigilant and will continue to take all necessary countermeasures against the Philippines' dangerous, escalatory acts.