Beijing, China—China said Sunday it had “indisputable sovereignty” over a contested reef after a Philippine ship anchored there for months left the area.
Beijing “has indisputable sovereignty over… Xianbin Jiao and its adjacent waters,” Chinese coast guard spokesperson Liu Dejun said, using the Chinese name for Sabina Shoal.
Manila’s actions had “seriously infringed on China’s territorial sovereignty… seriously undermining regional peace and stability,” the Chinese official claimed
“We sternly warn the Philippines to stop inciting propaganda and risking infringements, and to meet China halfway to safeguard the seriousness and validity of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” Liu said.
Beijing “will continue to carry out rights protection and law enforcement activities in waters under China’s jurisdiction,” Liu said.
Philippines National Maritime Council Spokesman Alexander Lopez said the country would “continue to monitor and enforce our rights, exercise our rights, sovereign rights, sovereignty and jurisdiction over the area.”
Earlier this week, officials from the Philippines and China held high-level talks on their maritime issues where Beijing reiterated its demand for the withdrawal of the Philippine vessel.
The latest situation has echoes of 2012, when Beijing took control of Scarborough Shoal—another strategic feature about 240 kilometers west of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon.
Then, Manila pulled its ships back after a tense two-month maritime standoff.
