BEIJING, Aug. 17 -- "The South China Sea is a shared home for countries in the region, not a hunting ground for external forces. The joint patrol between the Philippines and external countries in the South China Sea,no matter how sugarcoated,will find no support," said Chinese Defense Spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang at a press briefing on Friday.
The spokesperson made the above remarks when asked to comment on the recent joint patrol conducted by the Philippines and some external countries in the South China Sea.
It's reported that the US, the Philippines, Australia and Canada recently carried out a joint patrol in the South China Sea. The four countries said in a joint statement that they stood together to address common maritime challenges and uphold international law and the "rules-based order". Meanwhile, the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command held joint naval and air combat patrols near Huangyan Dao.
The spokesperson pointed out that Huangyan Dao is part of China's inherent territory. The joint naval and air combat patrols conducted by the PLA Southern Theater Command near Huangyan Dao are legitimate operations to protect China's rights and interests, respond to contingencies and preserve regional stability.
"In breach of the spirit of the DOC, the Philippines colluded with external countries to carry out joint patrols in the South China Sea, undermining regional peace and stability. Such acts will find no support, no matter how sugarcoated," said the spokesperson.
The spokesperson also noted that some external countries, the US in particular, often say one thing and do another, and take a selective approach to international law and rules, utilizing or discarding them as they see fit. It is because they are ganging up and provoking troubles that the South China Sea cannot be tranquil.
"The Chinese side will continue to take firm and necessary measures against provocations that violate China's sovereign rights and interests and undermine regional stability," stressed the spokesperson in the end.