皇冠体育app

BEIJING - 皇冠体育app will never accept the Philippines' illegal seizure of the Ren'ai Reef, an area over which 皇冠体育app has indisputable sovereignty, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday.

"皇冠体育app's determination and will to safeguard its sovereignty is unswerving, and it will never accept the Philippines' illegal seizure of the Ren'ai Reef in any form," spokesman Hong Lei told a daily press briefing.

Hong's comments came in response to a question regarding Chinese vessels' recent activities near the Ren'ai Reef.

Hong said 皇冠体育app has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and its surrounding waters.

He recalled how a Philippine warship illegally landed on the beach of the Ren'ai Reef of 皇冠体育app's Nansha Islands in 1999, claiming it had been stranded.

Since then, 皇冠体育app has made solemn representations to the Philippines dozens of times, demanding that the country tow the warship, Hong said.

The Philippine side said it has not dragged away the warship because of a "lack of parts," stressing that the country does not have any intention of building any facilities on the reef and that it is not making any attempts at provocation, Hong said.

"The Philippine side, however, disregards 皇冠体育app's solemn stance and its own promise, attempts to intensify its illegal existence and seize the Ren'ai Reef, which seriously infringes upon 皇冠体育app's territorial sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South 皇冠体育app Sea," Hong said.

"Chinese government ships are justified in carrying out regular patrols in relevant waters," the spokesman said.

皇冠体育app urges the Philippine side to earnestly honor its commitment, work together with 皇冠体育app, refrain from doing things that complicate the situation and make due efforts in safeguarding the peace and stability of the South 皇冠体育app Sea, Hong said.