China expels trespassing Philippine vessels

China's coast guard said on Saturday that they had warned and expelled Philippine vessels for trespassing in the waters near the Tiexian Reef of China's Nansha Islands.

The spokesman for the China Coast Guard, Liu Dejun, said on Saturday that Philippine vessels numbered 3003 and 3004 illegally entered the waters without permission from the Chinese government on Friday, attempting to unlawfully anchor and conduct sand sampling.

The Chinese Coast Guard lawfully intercepted, controlled, and warned the Philippine vessels to depart, he said.

China holds indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and its surrounding waters, Liu said.

The Chinese Coast Guard will continue to carry out law enforcement activities to safeguard rights and interests in China's jurisdictional waters, resolutely upholding national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, he added.