Muling iginiit ng China ang pag-angkin nito sa West Philippine Sea (WPS) at sinabihan pa ang Pilipinas na alisin ang military vessel sa karagatang sakop umano nito.

Sa pahayag ng Foreign Ministry ng China nitong Lunes, Agosto 7, nanindigan itong mayroong territorial sovereignty, maritime rights at interests ang China sa buong South China Sea.

Iginiit din nito na ang 2016 Arbitral Ruling ay purong “political drama staged in the name of law." 

"The so-called award contravenes international laws, including UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), and is illegal, null and void," saad ng Foreign Ministry ng China, bagama’t hindi nito idetalye kung anong bahagi ng international law ang tinutukoy nitong nalabag.

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Matatandaang noong Sabado, Agosto 5, nang mangyari pag-atake umano ng Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) sa supply boat ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sa Ayungin Shoal gamit ang “water cannon.”

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Kaugnay nito, iginiit ng Beijing na may "historical context" para patunayan umanong kailangan nila itong gawin.

"In 1999, the Philippines sent a military vessel and deliberately ran it aground at Ren’ai Jiao, attempting to change the status quo of Ren’ai Jiao illegally. China immediately made serious démarches to the Philippines, demanding the removal of the vessel," anang Foreign Ministry ng China.

"On August 5, in disregard of China’s repeated dissuasion and warning, the Philippines sent two vessels that intruded into the adjacent waters of Ren’ai Jiao and tried to deliver the construction materials for repairing and reinforcing the ‘grounded’ warship. Such actions violated China’s sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). The China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels stopped them in accordance with law and warned them off through appropriate law enforcement measures. Their maneuvers were professional, restrained and beyond reproach," saad pa nito.