China's long-term effective jurisdiction over Huangyan Island offers an important proof for its sovereignty claim.
According to many historical documents, Chinese first discovered the group of reefs and islets about 550 sea miles south of Hainan Island。
The territory of the Philippines is set by a series of international treaties due to its special history.
"During a rather long period, the Philippine legal documents, official papers and national maps never involve Huangyan Island," said Li Guoqiang.
The Philippines argued that Huangyan Island was its "inherent territory" because the island was in its 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone.
Historical evidence and international laws strongly support China's sovereignty claim over Huangyan Island.
The controversy over a tiny island in the South China Sea has intensified, making it the most serious standoff between China and the Philippines in the sea in recent years.
The Scarborough Shoal does belong to China which discovered it and drew it in a map as early as 1279 during the Yuan Dynasty.
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