China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun issued a sharp reminder on Thursday, asking the Philippines to 'immediately stop hyping up' maritime issues and halt any infringing or provocative acts in the South China Sea.
The comment came after a representative of the Philippines' maritime council announced that Manila would continue its routine resupply mission at Ren'ai Jiao, a feature in the Nansha Qundao archipelago which China considers its territory.
China maintains that its vessels operate legitimately within waters under the Chinese mainland's jurisdiction. Guo highlighted that the Philippines has grounded a warship at the site for an extended period, contravening China's sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
Under Article 5 of the declaration, no settlement activities are allowed on uninhabited islands and reefs. China has repeatedly demanded that the Philippines remove the military vessel and restore Ren'ai Jiao to its original, unoccupied state.
In a gesture of goodwill, China has upheld a provisional humanitarian arrangement that permits Manila to deliver living necessities, excluding construction materials, to Ren'ai Jiao, provided it notifies Beijing in advance and allows on-site verification.
Guo warned that recent actions by the Philippines risk jeopardizing marine peace and stability, stressing that China's resolve to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights remains firm. He urged Manila to cease all provocative acts immediately.
Reference(s):
China urges Philippines to stop 'hyping up' issues on maritime affairs
cgtn.com
