The PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, on Thursday warned the Philippines about the Huangyan Island incident, saying the country's armed forces will not allow anyone to take the sovereignty of the island away from China.
China's Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying said China is not optimistic about the situation concerning Huangyan Island, and the country is fully prepared to respond to anything the Philippine side does to escalate the situation.
Chinese experts said the Philippines’ recent move to rename a Chinese island involved in a month-long territorial spat is apparently aimed at asserting its claim over the area.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin Thursday warned the Philippines not to complicate the South Philippine media reported Thursday that more Chinese ships arrived at Huangyan Island in the South China Sea, where a standoff started after a Philippine warship tried to warn off Chinese fishermen but was stopped by Chinese surveillance ships last month.
The Philippines’ sovereignty claim over Huangyan Island is "illegal" and against the basic principles of international relations, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said on Friday.
China rejects Philippines claim over Huangyan Island
China is de-escalating the situation in Huangyan Island in South China Sea by withdrawing two law enforcement vessels, Zhang Hua, spokesman of Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said on Monday.
The Philippines recently sent a warship to harass 12 Chinese fishing vessels which sailed into the waters of Huangyan Island to shelter from bad weather.
Tensions between the Philippines and China are rising after Manila repeatedly called for help from bigger powers to resist Beijing over the issue of Huangyan Island, while the country asked for more ships and planes to be deployed to step up patrols in the area.
The Yuzheng-310, China's most advanced fishery patrol ship, arrived in waters off the coast of Huangyan Island in the South China Sea at Friday noon, starting its mission to protect the country's interests in territorial waters, fishery authorities said.
China withdrew one of three ships engaged in a standoff with Philippine vessels in the waters off Huangyan Island in the South China Sea on Friday, further defusing tensions as diplomats pursued a solution.
A Philippine warship that was in a standoff with Chinese surveillance boats near Huangyan Island in the South China Sea after trying to stop Chinese fishing boat crews has left the area.
National elections in the Philippines were held on Monday with voters showing little interest in the South China Sea issue, which observers said has been hyped up by the government and media.
The Philippines is scheduled to hold its presidential elections on Monday, with analysts believing that the race is the most complex in years whose result will bear broad geopolitical implications.
China on Friday reiterated its stance of non-acceptance and non-participation in the South China Sea arbitration case, adding that the case is a "political farce" unilaterally brought up by the Philippines to cover up its acts of illegal encroachment of Chinese territory.
China said on Thursday the door for dialogue with the Philippines on the South China Sea is always open, refuting the country's argument that bilateral dialogue has come to an end.
The Philippines has long pinned its hopes on the international community to woo sympathy for its groundless claim for some of China's islands in the South China Sea.