China urges Philippines to 'mend its ways' over South China Sea provocations

A Chinese defense spokesman on Thursday urged the Philippine side to "mend its ways before it's too late," following what Beijing described as repeated infringements in the South China Sea.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a regular news conference in Beijing in response to recent Philippine actions that China said violated its sovereignty.

According to the China Coast Guard, on Oct 12 it took control measures and expelled two Philippine government vessels that had "illegally intruded" into waters around Tiexian Reef in China's Nansha Islands earlier that day.

The coast guard said the vessels, numbered 3002 and 3003, entered the area without China's permission.

On Oct 16, the coast guard said it expelled two Philippine reconnaissance planes that had "illegally intruded" into China's airspace over Huangyan Island. It said Chinese forces tracked, monitored, and took control measures in accordance with laws and regulations.

The Philippine side claimed that China's operations endangered the safety of its crew, vessels and aircraft.

Zhang said China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters, as well as sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters.

"For a period of time, the Philippine side has launched frequent infringements and provocations against China, stirring up troubles at sea," he said. Zhang accused Manila of trying to "make waves at sea by soliciting external support, blackmailing and pressuring China through bluffing acts that resemble the fox borrowing the tiger's terror."

He also said the Philippines has been spreading false information to smear China and mislead the public, adding that China will "firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests with legitimate, legal, professional and prudent actions."

"We would never allow any provocations and trouble-making to work, nor would we leave any room for blackmailing the big by the small," Zhang said.

"We urge the Philippine side to mend your ways before it's too late, come back to the right track of dialogue and consultation, and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea together with other regional countries," he said.