According to the Foreign Ministry's official website, the spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry responded to reporters' questions regarding the Chinese government's announcement of the baseline of the territorial sea of the Huangyan Island.

Question: The Chinese government issued a statement today, announcing the baseline of the territorial sea of the Huangyan Island. Is this move a countermeasure against the Philippines' "Marine Zone Law"?

Answer: Huangyan Island is an inherent territory of China. The Chinese government, in accordance with international laws such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone, delineates and announces the baseline of the territorial sea around Huangyan Island. This is a normal measure by the Chinese government to strengthen marine management in accordance with the law, in line with international law and customary practices.

The Philippines has enacted a so-called "Maritime Zone Act," attempting to solidify the illegal ruling of the South China Sea arbitration case through domestic legislation, illegally incorporating the majority of the Nansha Islands, including the Huangyan Island, and the related waters into its maritime zones, severely infringing upon China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. China resolutely opposes this and will continue to take all necessary measures in accordance with the law to steadfastly defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

On [date], the China Coast Guard issued a statement on the Huangyan Island issue, stating that Huangyan Island is an inherent territory of China. For a long time, China has continuously, peacefully, and effectively exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over Huangyan Island. Recently, the Philippines has frequently dispatched military and police vessels, aircraft, and government ships to provoke incidents in the sea and airspace near Huangyan Island, seriously infringing upon China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. The Philippines has also encouraged fishing boats to illegally operate in the Huangyan Island lagoon. According to information obtained, some Philippine fishing boats are suspected of engaging in illegal activities such as poisoning fish and harvesting endangered aquatic wildlife, damaging the fragile ecosystem in the relevant waters.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs official website, China Coast Guard website

Editor: Dai Shuo

Proofreading: Wei Yuan Responsible Editor: Cheng Chunyu

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