By Abbas Nazil
China has resolved to take more decisive actions to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights after the United States and the Philippines separately dispatched warships, aircraft, and other official vessels into the waters and airspace surrounding Huangyan Island within a span of two days.
According to the People’s Liberation Army, Navy forces from the Southern Theater Command expelled the US destroyer USS Higgins on Wednesday after it allegedly entered China’s territorial waters near Huangyan Island without Beijing’s approval.
Senior Captain He Tiecheng, spokesperson for the PLA naval forces in the region, stated that Chinese naval units tracked, monitored, warned, and ultimately expelled the US vessel in line with laws and regulations.
He accused the US of seriously infringing on China’s sovereignty, threatening regional peace and stability, and violating international law as well as established norms of international relations.
On Monday, the China Coast Guard carried out similar operations to expel multiple Philippine Coast Guard vessels, government ships, and fishing boats that entered waters around the island.
Philippine military aircraft were also reported to have flown into the island’s airspace.
China Coast Guard spokesman Gan Yu said the agency employed measures including monitoring and blocking to remove the Philippine vessels, stressing that the actions were professional, lawful, and restrained.
He claimed that the Philippine side used the pretext of resupplying fishing boats while ignoring repeated warnings, insisting on intruding into the area.
Gan reaffirmed that Huangyan Island is China’s inherent territory and vowed continued patrols and enforcement to protect national sovereignty and maritime rights.
Zhang Junshe, former researcher at the PLA Naval Research Academy, described the Philippine actions as deliberate provocations aimed at creating a long-term presence to support its sovereignty claims.
He warned that such attempts would meet with strong countermeasures from China.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian condemned the Philippine operations as serious violations of China’s sovereignty, harmful to maritime peace, and of a malign nature.
Lin urged Manila to halt its infringements, asserting that the Philippines’ deliberate provocations were the root cause of heightened tensions in the South China Sea.
He also stressed that China’s determination to defend its territory would not be swayed by external interference, singling out the United States for criticism.
Liu Lin, professor of international strategy at the Party School of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, accused the Philippines of orchestrating propaganda by preparing video materials in advance to depict itself as a victim and win international sympathy.
Chinese authorities reiterated that any future incursions will be met with stronger, more resolute actions to ensure sovereignty over Huangyan Island.