Published: 18:00, April 1, 2026
China opposes Philippines' illegal renaming of Nansha Qundao
By Xinhua
This photo carried in a report named "A Survey Report on the Coral Reef Ecosystem of Xianbin Jiao" shows an aerial view of Xianbin Jiao of China's Nansha Qundao. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - China firmly opposes any actions by the Philippines that undermine China's sovereignty, rights and interests, and will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to the Philippines' illegal re-naming of China's Nansha Qundao.

China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Qundao and its adjacent waters, she added.

She said that the Philippines has illegally delineated the so-called "Kalayaan Island Group" beyond its own territorial scope and assigned names to Chinese islands and reefs in the Nansha Qundao, adding that such acts violate China's territorial sovereignty and are inconsistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and relevant international laws.