On September 29th, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jia Kun presided over a regular press conference.
A reporter asked that, according to reports, on the 25th, the Philippine National Maritime Council announced a so-called new version of the "chart", which includes islands and reefs such as Zhongye Island and Ma Huan Island in China's Nansha Islands. What is China's comment on this?
Guo Jia Kun stated that Zhongye Island and Ma Huan Island are part of China’s Nansha Islands, and constitute Chinese territory. China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and the surrounding waters.
He pointed out that the territory of the Philippines is defined by a series of international treaties. The Chinese South China Sea islands, including the Nansha Islands, are outside the territory of the Philippines. The Philippines has illegally seized some of the islands and reefs in the Chinese Nansha Islands, exceeding its territorial boundaries. It has established the so-called 'Carayan Island Group' and issued so-called 'marine charts' for the islands and reefs in the Chinese Nansha Islands, seriously violating China's territorial sovereignty and the United Nations Charter and related international laws. Such actions are illegal and invalid.
Guo Jiaqun emphasized that China firmly opposes any actions by the Philippines that undermine China's sovereignty and rights. China will continue to take necessary measures to firmly defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea.
