Xinhua Commentary: Manila must stop dangerous provocations, infringements in South China Sea

BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' recent provocations against China in the South China Sea once again lay bare Manila's destructive and destabilizing role in the region.

At around 9 a.m. Monday, two rubber boats launched from the Philippines' illegally grounded vessel BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) ignored repeated and clear warnings from the Chinese side, approached a Chinese patrol boat at high speed in a dangerous manner, encircled it and rammed it in waters near Ren'ai Jiao in the South China Sea.

During the incident, Philippine personnel maliciously attacked Chinese law enforcement officers with oars, long poles and other tools. The Chinese side responded with verbal warnings, evasive maneuvers and corresponding countermeasures to bring the situation under control, while remaining rational and exercising the utmost restraint.

The timing of the incident is consistent with a familiar pattern for Manila: stirring up trouble at sea, seizing the diplomatic spotlight and attempting to pressure China. The incident occurred as Manila is hosting the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings. Yet the Philippine side's habitual tactics of hyping up incidents it initiates and playing the victim to mislead others and win sympathy will never alter the facts.

Ren'ai Jiao, part of China's Nansha Qundao, is Chinese territory. It is entirely reasonable and lawful for the China Coast Guard to carry out law enforcement operations in waters adjacent to Ren'ai Jiao. It is the Philippines that has persistently infringed upon China's territorial sovereignty by refusing to remove its military vessel LT-57, which it deliberately and illegally grounded at Ren'ai Jiao in 1999.

The vessel has remained there despite China's repeated demands that the Philippine side tow it away. The vessel and the activities of the personnel stationed aboard it have also caused serious damage to the local coral reef ecosystem. The rusting warship reflects Manila's attempt to establish a permanent presence in the area, but it can never serve as a title deed. China remains firmly committed to safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and will continue, in accordance with the law, to carry out law enforcement operations in China's Nansha Qundao, including Ren'ai Jiao, and adjacent waters.

External forces, particularly the United States, have emboldened the Philippines to engage in provocative actions. Despite China's detailed account of the incident and the on-site footage released by Chinese media, the U.S. side declares that it stands with the Philippines. Its strategy of interfering in disputes and destabilizing the situation in the South China Sea is becoming increasingly explicit.

An outside power that habitually excuses provocations, inflames disputes and turns an ally into a geopolitical instrument is not safeguarding peace. It is part of the problem. By shielding Manila's provocations, Washington rewards brinkmanship and encourages confrontation.

China has exercised restraint and has both the resolve and capacity to safeguard its sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. The Philippines must stop infringing on China's sovereignty and end its dangerous, futile and potentially costly provocations conducted in collusion with external forces. ■