China on Sunday said that the Philippines should bear full responsibility for a ship collision that occurred near Tiexian Jiao in the Nansha Islands, after two Philippine government vessels entered Chinese waters without permission.
According to a statement by China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesperson Liu Dejun, Philippine vessels 3002 and 3003 illegally intruded into waters adjacent to Tiexian Jiao on Sunday. Liu said that at 9:19 a.m., the Philippine vessel 3003 ignored multiple stern warnings from the Chinese side and made a dangerous approach toward the CCG ship 21559, resulting in a collision.
"The responsibility (for the incident) lies entirely with the Philippine side," Liu said, emphasizing that the CCG's actions were "professional, standardized and lawful."
Liu reiterated China's indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, including Tiexian Jiao and their surrounding waters. He said the Philippines' actions seriously infringed on China's territorial sovereignty, violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and undermined peace and stability in the region.
He urged the Philippine side to immediately stop its infringements and provocations, and reaffirmed that the CCG will continue to carry out rights protection and law enforcement operations in waters under China's jurisdiction in accordance with the law.
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