Beijing reiterated its call for Manila to cease provocative actions, amid rising tensions in the South China Sea between the two sides.

China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesperson Jiang Lüe stated that the Philippine vessels 3012 and 3018 entered those waters despite repeated warnings from the Chinese side.

Jiang affirmed that the CCG implemented tracking, interception, and control measures to expel the vessels, and stated that the operations were professional, legitimate, and in accordance with the law.

China blamed the Philippines this week for an incident that occurred near a reef in the disputed waters.

The incident occurred shortly before Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi participated in a meeting with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Manila.

Wang noted that the deterioration of bilateral relations benefits neither side and noted that the intervention of external actors and the widening of maritime disputes affect regional stability.

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