China criticizes Philippines for violating sovereignty, maritime rights

China firmly opposes the Philippines' recent actions and comments related to the South China Sea, as they severely violated China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, a defense spokesman said on Friday.

Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang made the remarks in an online news briefing, in response to the Philippines government, which signed into law the so-called Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.

In addition, the Philippines Navy spokesperson said recently that joint naval exercises held frequently by the Philippines, the United States and other Western powers were helping reign in "aggressive" Chinese actions in the South China Sea.

Zhang said that the Philippines side, in collusion with external countries, carries out frequent military exercises in the South China Sea to sow discord and provoke confrontation.

"Such actions disrupt peace and stability in the South China Sea and undermine the interests and well-being of people in the region," he said.

The Philippines side is even attempting to solidify the illegal arbitral award on the South China Sea through domestic legislation, bringing China's Huangyan Island, most of the islands and reefs of China's Nansha Islands, and their adjacent waters into its maritime zones, said Zhang.

"Such acts severely violate China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea and harm other countries' right to navigation and shipping," he said, noting that the Chinese side firmly opposed those acts.

The spokesman emphasized that the Asia-Pacific welcomes those who share the pursuit of peaceful development, not those who create nothing but troubles and conflicts.

"We request the Philippines side to immediately stop spreading false narratives, refrain from any unilateral action that may expand and complicate disputes, and return to the right track of settlement through dialogue and negotiation," he said.

The Chinese military will take strong and resolute measures to safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, counter infringements and provocations, and preserve peace and stability in the South China Sea, Zhang warned.