Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Friday rejected Philippine claims about disruptions of a medical evacuation from a Philippine vessel illegally grounded at China's Ren'ai Jiao, stressing that China will not waver in responding to any provocation and safeguarding territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. 

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks on Friday, reiterating that a Philippine coast guard (PCG) vessel had intruded the adjacent waters of Ren'ai Jiao, in Nansha Qundao of China without China's permission on Thursday morning. 

The China Coast Guard took legitimate and reasonable measures to handle the situation in accordance with laws and regulations, Mao said.

After communication between the two sides, out of humanitarian considerations, China gave timely permission to the Philippine side to evacuate injured personnel by small boat and provided necessary facilitation, Mao added.

Instead of acknowledging China's facilitation, individual Philippine officials have distorted facts and wrongfully accused China without showing the whole picture to the public, Mao said. This once again reveals their intention of provoking China and staging publicity stunts, which is rather despicable, she said. 

The remarks came in response to claims by a PCG spokesperson that CCG vessels had "obstructed" the evacuation mission, made dangerous maneuvers near a PCG vessel and used water cannons.

Although the Philippine warship is illegally grounded at China's Ren'ai Jiao, China allowed the evacuation of the injured person on humanitarian grounds, Chen Xiangmiao, a researcher at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Friday. The incident stems mainly from the Philippines' refusal to notify the Chinese side and unusual deployment of coast guard vessels in that region.

Friction between China and the Philippines near Ren'ai Jiao stems mainly from the Philippines' refusal to tow away its illegally grounded warship and its unfounded claim to jurisdiction over the reef, he said.

The Philippine side has a history of illegally transporting construction materials to reinforce the grounded warship's hull, seeking to occupy Ren'ai Jiao and the adjacent waters that do not belong to it, Chen said. Its attempt to portray itself as a victim under the pretext of a medical evacuation is consistent with its unfounded claims in these waters, he added.

Both resupply missions and medical evacuations involving the illegally grounded warship must be subject to inspections by the Chinese side and carried out with its cooperation and assistance, Chen said.

He noted that the Philippines had deliberately deployed coast guard vessels in the area for the purported medical evacuation without notifying China in advance. Such a deployment went well beyond what a routine medical evacuation would require, making the operation unusual and inconsistent with its stated purpose, Chen said.

Mao's remarks followed a statement issued on Thursday evening by CCG spokesperson Jiang Lue, who said PCG vessel 4409 had traveled to waters near Ren'ai Jiao that day to evacuate an injured person from the Philippine warship illegally grounded there. Jiang added that, on humanitarian grounds, China had immediately allowed the injured person to be transferred by small boat. The CCG handled the matter in accordance with laws and regulations and provided necessary assistance, he said. 

Jiang said the Philippine side's remarks disregarded the facts, distorted the truth and sought to mislead the public. China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao, including Ren'ai Jiao and their adjacent waters, he said, warning the Philippine side to immediately stop its infringements, provocations and dissemination of false claims.