Question: On March 7, a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reconnaissance aircraft carrying journalists was reportedly warned off by PLAN ships via radio communications during its patrol near Huangyan Dao. Besides, the PCG said it would have more patrols in the South China Sea and enhance public communications to increase transparency and counter what it describes as China's bullying. What’s your comment on this?
Jiang Bin: China has indisputable sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao, including Huangyan Dao, and their adjacent waters. We have sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters. China’s law-enforcement and rights-protection operations in waters within our jurisdiction are fully justified. In response to the recent rights-violation actions and provocations conducted by the PCG, the Chinese side took legitimate and lawful countermeasures that are professional and restrained.
Taking journalists on-board during its so-called patrol missions to film videos and play up the “victim’s narrative” has become the not-so-surprising playbook for the Philippine side. The so-called transparency and exposure campaign is not about uncovering the truth to the world, but a self-directed farce. Let me make it clear to the Philippine side: edited footage and fabricated lies can never change China’s sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao, including Huangyan Dao. They won’t sway China’s firm resolve in safeguarding our rights in accordance with the law. We will continue to take effective countermeasures in response to all rights-violation actions and provocations.
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