China urges Philippines to end "infringement activities" near disputed shoal

China has urged the Philippines to "immediately stop infringing upon China's rights" following recent incidents involving Philippine vessels near the disputed Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea.

Speaking at a regular press briefing on Friday (July 24), Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing had acted lawfully in response to what it described as Philippine incursions into waters around the disputed shoal, Caliber.Az reports via Chinese media.

According to Lin, the China Coast Guard had "set the record straight" regarding what Beijing characterised as Philippine "infringement activities and provocations" in the waters of Huangyan Dao.

Noting that Huangyan Dao has always been China's territory, Lin said relevant Philippine vessels deliberately intruded into the waters. "It's legitimate and lawful for China to take necessary measures to defend our rights and security. Our actions are professional, standard, and beyond reproach," Lin added.

Lin also accused Manila of deliberately escalating tensions by bringing journalists aboard Philippine vessels during the latest incident.

"Let me stress that, the Philippines again brought reporters on board in its latest infringement activities and provocations and created tensions at sea by playing up the issue, proving itself to be the saboteur of the peace and stability in the South China Sea and the troublemaker in the region," he said.

Earlier, China and the Philippines exchanged accusations on Monday (July 24) after a confrontation between their vessels near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea left a Philippine sailor injured and a navy rubber boat damaged.

The Philippine military said Chinese Coast Guard personnel struck one of its sailors on the head with a wooden baton after approaching a grounded Philippine warship. Manila described the incident as an illegal and aggressive act and urged Beijing to respect the 2016 international arbitral ruling on the South China Sea.

China rejected the allegations, accusing Philippine vessels of ignoring warnings, ramming a Chinese patrol boat and attacking its personnel first with paddles and wooden poles. Beijing said its coast guard responded with restraint and accused Manila of distorting the facts.

By Aghakazim Guliyev