Q: Recently, the Philippine side has been repeatedly expelling Chinese fishing boats in the waters near the Wuang Yan Island. The Defence Minister of the Philippines said that the Chinese fishing boats have violated its territorial sovereignty. What is your comment?


A: Recently, the Philippine side has, in disregard of China's sovereignty over the Huang Yan Island, wantonly harassed Chinese fishermen having normal fishing activities in the waters and even gone so far as going on board by force to check and robbing things. Some high-level officials in the Philippines even publicly made some highly irresponsible remarks, claiming that the Chinese fishing boats violated the sovereignty of the Philippines. This act of confusing right and wrong can not be accepted by the Chinese side. China's Foreign Ministry has sent two notes to the Philippine embassy in China, expressing its serious concern over the developments and protesting against the illegal acts of the Philippine side. It pointed out that the Huang Yan Island is an integral part of the Chinese territory, a fact that has been widely respected by the international community. The Philippines has no sovereignty or any sovereign rights over the Hang Yan Island and its adjacent waters, nor does it have jurisdiction over the waters. The Chinese side urges the Philippine side to respect the territorial sovereignty of China, respect the basic norms governing international relations, abide by the understanding and consensus reached by the two sides, stop the illegal activities that violate China's sovereignty and refrain from creating new troubles.