China is calling on the Philippines to immediately stop illegal activities in the sea off the disputed Nansha (Spartly) Islands, Gan Yu, spokesman for the Chinese Maritime Police Administration, said on Sunday.
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The Philippine Coast Guard released a statement on Sunday condemning the use of water cannons by the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippine vessels in the disputed Ayungin shallow waters in the South China Sea. Western Philippine Marine spokesman Jay Tarriela tweeted that the Philippine Coast Guard strongly condemns the illegal use of water cannons against its vessels escorting indigenous boats chartered by the Philippine Armed Forces.
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According to Gan Yu, whose words are quoted on the website of the Office, two cargo ships and two ships of the Coast Guard entered the territorial waters of the Nansha (Spartly) Islands on August 5 without receiving permission from China.
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“China’s maritime police, in accordance with the law, has taken the necessary control measures and blocked the passage of Philippine ships carrying goods illegally. We call on the Philippine side to immediately stop illegal activities in this maritime zone,” the statement said.
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It is noted that China has undeniable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and the adjacent waters.
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“The Chinese Maritime Police will continue to carry out activities to protect the rights and ensure law and order in the waters under the jurisdiction of China, in accordance with the law,” the statement said.
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In July, the Philippine Coast Guard also accused Chinese patrol boats of blocking two of its boats in the South China Sea, calling the PRC’s actions “very dangerous.”
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For decades, China has been arguing with several countries in the Asia-Pacific region over the territorial ownership of a number of islands in the South China Sea, on the shelf of which significant hydrocarbon reserves have been discovered. We are talking about the Xisha archipelago (Paracel Islands), the Nansha (Spratly) and Huangyan Islands (Scarborough Reef).
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Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines are involved to varying degrees in this dispute.
The situation in the region is often complicated by the passage of US warships, which, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, violate international law and undermine China’s sovereignty and security.
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Despite protests from Beijing, official Washington stated that the United States would sail wherever international law allowed it.
