The latest video clip taken on-site has shown that Chinese law enforcement vessels thwarted Philippine sides' attempt to illegally board China's reef in the South China Sea.

Philippine vessels 3003 and 3004 entered the waters near Tiexian Jiao (Tiexian Reef) of the Nansha Islands without the permission of the Chinese government on Friday. The vessels attempted to illegally land on the reef and conduct sand sampling. China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels lawfully obstructed the Philippine ships' course and warned them away, CCG spokesperson Liu Dejun said Friday. 

The following day, on Saturday, the CCG released the on-site evidence of this counteraction. The video shows that the Philippine vessel 3003 attempted to pass in front of the CCG vessel 4106, seriously disrupting the normal navigation operations of the CCG vessel. 

The Philippine vessel 3004 attempted to obstruct the CCG vessel 4106 in a dangerous manner and even tried to ram the vessel 4106 with its bow. The provocative actions of the Philippine side severely threatened the navigation safety of the CCG ship.

In response to the Philippine side's provocative attempt to illegally land on the reef by deploying a small boat, the CCG vessel also deployed an enforcement vessel to carry out targeted interception and control, thwarting the Philippine side's plot.

Liu said on Friday that China holds indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, including Tiexian Jiao, and the surrounding waters. The CCG will continue to carry out law enforcement activities to protect rights in waters under China's jurisdiction, firmly safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime interests.

The video shows that the Philippine vessel attempted to cross in front of the CCG vessel, an action that is dangerous, much like suddenly crossing the road while driving, Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday, noting that the Philippine vessel took advantage of its smaller size and acted deliberately in the belief that the CCG, with its larger vessels, would be cautious.

According to a Reuters report on Thursday, the Philippines will soon decide on an international platform to sue China for alleged damage to the marine environment, as it pursues a high-profile legal challenge against China over the South China Sea.

Chen added that the series of provocative acts by the Philippine side and its prosecution on the international platform are intended to make up for its own weaknesses in maritime affairs by playing the role of a victim and using international public opinion to put pressure on China.

However, the false claims made by the Philippines will not stand the test of time, Chen added. In 2024, China issued several reports on the islands and reefs in the South China Sea, which strongly exposed the fallacies of the Philippines.