China has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding its territorial sovereignty after the China Coast Guard (CCG) warned the Philippines to halt alleged infringements on Tiexian Jiao, an uninhabited reef in the Nansha Qundao (Spratly Islands) in the South China Sea.
According to Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, six individuals from the Philippines illegally landed on Tiexian Jiao on Sunday. In response, CCG officers boarded the reef to conduct on-site verification and enforcement measures in accordance with the law.
“Tiexian Jiao is an integral part of China’s Nansha Qundao,” Guo stated on Monday. “China conducts law enforcement activities to firmly uphold its national territorial sovereignty, ensure Tiexian Jiao remains uninhabited with no personnel or facilities, and uphold the sanctity of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.”
The Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, signed in 2002 by China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), calls for peaceful resolution of disputes and self-restraint from activities that would complicate or escalate conflicts.
The South China Sea remains a strategic waterway with overlapping territorial claims from several countries. China’s recent actions underline its stance on maintaining stability and sovereignty in the region.
