Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 29) — Asserting its territorial rights over the entire South China Sea, China said it won’t turn a blind eye on Philippines’ repeated “provocations and harassment” in the disputed waters.
\”China is always committed to resolving differences through dialogue and consultation and making joint efforts to maintain maritime stability, but we will not turn a blind eye towards the Philippine’s repeated provocations and harassment,\” Chinese defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said in a news conference.
READ: Defense chief says PH ‘not stirring up trouble’ in WPS
Wu also called the country’s resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal a \” deliberate move to create an incident, play victim and make a show,\” adding that the supply vessels carried many journalists and propagated disinformation regarding the geopolitical conflict.
Earlier this month, the China Coast Guard (CCG) once again blasted with water cannon a Philippine commissioned vessel on its way for a resupply mission.
READ: PH vessel suffers ‘serious engine damage’ in new water cannon incident in WPS
Yet time and again, China kept on stressing that the CCG only took necessary enforcement measures which were \”justified, legitimate, and in accordance with the law.\”
\”This is purely false hype,\” Wu reacted to accusations of China’s escalating harassment in the South China Sea.
\”The Philippine side, in disregard of repeated warnings from the Chinese side, insisted on sending vessel to intrude into the adjacent waters of China’s Ren’ai Jiao, and provocatively rammed a China Coast Guard vessel and caused scratch,\” he added.
China also continued to deny pointing a military-grade laser at a Philippine vessel in February this year.
\”This is [an] entirely groundless accusation. China has no intention or necessity to use such devices,\” the spokesperson said.
