Beijing summoned the ambassador of the Philippines to China on Tuesday and lodged solemn representations over Manila's deliberate provocation at Ren'ai Reef and attack on China Coast Guard law enforcement personnel on Monday.

周二，中方紧急召见菲律宾驻华大使，就菲方周一在仁爱礁蓄意挑衅、袭击中国海警执法人员一事提出严正交涉。

The Chinese Foreign Ministry, in a statement, described the acts as egregious, noting that the Philippines initiated the provocation and then sought to shift the blame onto China, distorted the facts and maliciously hyped up the incident.

外交部发表声明指出，菲方上述行为性质恶劣；菲方挑衅在先，事后却倒打一耙、歪曲事实，恶意炒作此次海上事件。

The statement said China Coast Guard operations in waters near the reef were justified and lawful, and the country would take measures to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

声明强调，中国海警在仁爱礁附近海域开展执法活动合理合法，中方将采取一切必要措施，坚定捍卫自身领土主权与海洋权益。

Addressing a regular news briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stressed that Ren'ai Reef is part of China's Nansha Islands and is Chinese territory.

外交部发言人林剑在例行记者会上强调，仁爱礁是中国南沙群岛的组成部分，主权属于中国。

A Philippine military vessel has remained illegally grounded at Ren'ai Reef since May 9, 1999, despite Manila's repeated commitments to remove it.

1999年5月9日以来，菲律宾一艘军舰在仁爱礁非法坐滩，尽管菲方多次承诺将该舰拖离，却始终未兑现承诺。

Lin urged the Philippines to honor its commitments, immediately stop maritime provocations and false narratives, and exercise effective restraint over its frontline personnel.

林剑敦促菲方恪守承诺，立即停止海上挑衅与虚假舆论造势，并有效约束一线人员言行。

"Otherwise, the Philippines will bear all consequences arising from its actions," he added.

他补充道：如若不然，菲方必须承担自身行径引发的一切后果。

Lin said that in July 2024, China and the Philippines reached a provisional arrangement on humanitarian resupply missions to the grounded vessel based on China's three-point principled position, adding that China's position remains unchanged.

林剑表示，2024年7月，中方基于三点原则立场，与菲方就坐滩军舰人道主义生活物资补给达成临时安排，中方这一立场至今未变。

"If the Philippines were to attempt to build fixed facilities or permanent outpost, China will absolutely not accept it and will resolutely stop it in accordance with the law and regulations," Lin said.

林剑称：倘若菲方试图在礁上修建固定设施、永久哨所，中方绝对不会接受，并将依法依规坚决予以制止。

China Coast Guard spokesman Jiang Lue said that on Tuesday morning, China allowed the Philippine side, on humanitarian grounds, to use a boat to transfer the injured sailor to Philippine Coast Guard vessel No 9702. The China Coast Guard contacted the Philippine vessel to verify the purpose of the operation and monitored the process throughout, Jiang said.

中国海警局发言人姜略表示，周二上午，中方从人道主义角度出发，允许菲方船只将受伤水手转运至菲律宾9702号海警船。中方海警全程与菲方船只沟通核实行动目的，并全程监督转运全过程。

With Foreign Minister Wang Yi set to attend the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila on Wednesday, Lin, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, said it is worth noting that whenever China and the Philippines prepare for dialogue or engagement, or whenever a major regional diplomatic event approaches, certain forces invariably seek to stir up trouble over maritime issues.

王毅外长将于周三赴马尼拉出席中国—东盟外长会。外交部发言人林剑指出，一个值得警惕的现象是：每逢中菲即将开展对话交往、或是地区重大外交活动临近之际，总有某些势力刻意借海上问题制造事端。

"As to where the facts and merits of the issue lie and who is pulling the strings behind the scenes, I believe it's plain for all to see. China's policy on neighborhood diplomacy remains consistent and unchanged," he said.

他表示：事件孰是孰非、谁在幕后操纵，世人有目共睹。中方周边外交政策一以贯之，从未改变。

Lin said East Asian cooperation platforms are not appropriate venues for discussing bilateral maritime disputes, calling on the Philippines to fulfill its responsibilities as ASEAN chair by promoting dialogue and cooperation rather than putting its own political interests above regional peace and stability.

林剑表示，东亚合作相关平台并非讨论双边海上争端的合适场合；菲方作为东盟轮值主席国，应当履行自身责任，推动对话合作，而非将本国政治私利凌驾于地区和平稳定之上。

He Xianqing, an associate researcher at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said that Manila was seeking international attention and sympathy from ASEAN countries by portraying China as a coercive bully on purpose. It also tried to give the illegal and invalid "2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea" greater practical effect and deterrent force — a development that warrants vigilance.

中国南海研究院副研究员何贤清分析，菲律宾刻意将中国塑造成强势施压一方，以此博取国际社会与东盟国家的关注与同情；菲方还企图赋予2016年非法无效的南海仲裁案裁决更多实际效力与威慑力，这一动向值得高度警惕。

Zhu Feng, a professor at Nanjing University's School of International Studies, said the Philippines had sought backing from the United States and Japan as it escalated tensions with China in the South China Sea for narrow domestic political purposes.

南京大学国际关系学院朱锋教授表示，菲律宾出于狭隘国内政治考量，不断在南海制造紧张局势，同时寻求美日两国撑腰支持。

provocation /ˌprɒvəˈkeɪʃn/ n.挑衅、滋事

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