China Coast Guard Ship Chuanshan (Hull 3302) conducts maritime rescue exercise in waters adjacent to Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island) in the South China Sea in early summer of, 2024. Photo: Screenshot from media reports

On Wednesday, the Philippines dispatched coast guard ships and government vessels, along with several fishing boats, to intrude into China's territorial waters around Huangyan Dao. The China Coast Guard (CCG) implemented control measures in accordance with the law and regulations, CCG spokesperson Liu Dejun said in a statement on Wednesday. 

During the event, Philippine government vessel 3003 ignored multiple stern warnings from the Chinese side, made a sharp turn, and reversed, deliberately ramming into CCG ship 3302. This act seriously threatened the CCG vessel’s navigational safety, making the Philippines the true provocateur and violator, Liu said.

The Philippine side used the guise of fishing and fishing protection to carry out rights-infringing and provocative acts, then distorted the facts, blaming China in an attempt to mislead international perception, the spokesperson said. 

“We warn the Philippine side to immediately stop its acts of infringement, provocation, and inflammatory rhetoric; otherwise, all consequences arising from this will be borne by the Philippine side,” Liu said.

Global Times