Philippines twisting the facts to shift blame over sea incident, says Beijing 

Beijing summoned the ambassador of the Philippines to China on July 21 and lodged solemn representations over Manila’s deliberate provocation at Ren’ai Reef and attack on China Coast Guard law enforcement personnel on July 20.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry described the acts as egregious, noting that the Philippines initiated the provocation and then sought to shift the blame onto China, distorted the facts and maliciously hyped up the incident.

The statement said that China Coast Guard operations in waters near the reef were justified and lawful, and the country would take measures to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Addressing a regular news briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian emphasized that Ren’ai Reef is part of China’s Nansha Islands and is Chinese territory.

A Philippine military vessel has remained illegally grounded at Ren’ai Reef since May 9, 1999, despite repeated commitments by Manila to remove it.

Lin urged the Philippines to honor its commitments, immediately stop maritime provocations and false narratives, and exercise effective restraint over its frontline personnel.

“Otherwise, the Philippines will bear all consequences arising from its actions,” he added.

Lin said that in July 2024, China and the Philippines reached a provisional arrangement on humanitarian resupply missions to the grounded vessel based on China’s three-point position, adding that China’s position remains unchanged.

“If the Philippines attempts to build fixed facilities or a permanent outpost, China will never accept it and will resolutely block such attempts in accordance with laws and regulations,” Lin said.

On July 21, China Coast Guard spokesman Jiang Lue said China allowed the Philippine side, on humanitarian grounds, to use a boat to transfer injured personnel to Philippine Coast Guard vessel No 9702.

The China Coast Guard contacted the Philippine vessel to verify the purpose of the operation and monitored the process throughout, Jiang said, adding that it will continue to conduct law enforcement operations to safeguard China’s rights at Ren’ai Reef and in surrounding waters.

Lin, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, said that it is worth noting that, whenever China and the Philippines prepare for dialogue or engagement, or whenever a major regional diplomatic event approaches, certain forces invariably seek to stir up trouble over maritime issues.

“It is clear who is responsible and who is acting behind the scenes. China’s neighborhood diplomacy has remained consistent,” he said.

Lin added that East Asian cooperation platforms are not appropriate venues for discussing bilateral maritime disputes, calling on the Philippines to fulfill its responsibilities as ASEAN chair.

He Xianqing, an associate researcher at National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said that Manila is seeking international attention and sympathy from ASEAN countries by deliberately portraying China as a coercive bully.

Contact the writers at zhaojia@chinadaily.com.cn