Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun

The US is not a party to the South China Sea issue and has no right to interfere in maritime matters among the countries concerned, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Monday, in response to a question about the US State Department's claim that China's alleged use of water cannons and cutting of anchor lines of Philippine fishing vessels in the South China Sea had "endangered Philippine livelihoods," as well as its statement that "we stand with our Philippine allies as they confront China's provocative actions and increasingly dangerous tactics against its neighbors." 

Guo urged the US to stop making statements that distort the facts and incite confrontation, and stop condoning and supporting the Philippines' provocations and disturbances in the South China Sea.

Guo said that Xianbin Jiao is part of China's Nansha Islands, over which China has indisputable sovereignty, including the surrounding waters. On December 12, the Philippines organized and premeditated the gathering of a large number of vessels to provoke trouble in waters near Xianbin Jiao and attempted to intrude into the reef's lagoon, he said. 

During the incident, so-called Philippine fishing boats ignored repeated warnings from the Chinese side, lingered stubbornly in the lagoon, and repeatedly carried out dangerous maneuvers such as malicious course changes. Guo added that Philippine personnel even threatened Chinese Coast Guard officers enforcing the law on the scene with knives. 

Such actions seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, violated international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and severely undermined peace and stability at sea, Guo noted.

He added that China's necessary response measures were legitimate, lawful, professional, and restrained, and beyond reproach, urging the Philippine side to immediately stop its infringements and provocations, halt sensationalist hype, and refrain from staging self-directed and self-acted maritime farces while challenging China's firm resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and rights.

Global Times