File photo: Huangyan Dao in South China Sea

Some Philippine fishing vessels have recently been engaged in illegal actions in waters off China's Huangyan Dao and China “has no other choice but to strengthen supervision in waters off Huangyan Dao to uphold sovereignty as well as safety and order in the relevant waters,” said Hua Chunying, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson during a regular press conference on March 22, 2016.

Responding to a claim from a captain of a Philippine fishing vessel, saying that his ship was twice warned and driven away by Chinese coast guard vessels while fishing around Huangyan Dao in early March, Hua said that Huangyan Dao is China's inherent territory and that the Philippine fishing vessels intruded into lagoons without any permission, trawling illegally in relevant waters for a very long time.

“Chinese official vessels, acting in line with law, persuaded illegal Philippine fishing vessels to leave this area. But the Philippine ships refused to obey, and some people aboard even waved around machetes and flung fire bombs, carried out deliberate provocation, and attacked the Chinese law enforcers and official boats,” Hua said.

“These actions defied China's law enforcement and seriously threatened the safety and order of the waters off Huangyan Dao. China has no other choice but to strengthen supervision in waters off Huangyan Dao to uphold sovereignty as well as safety and order in the relevant waters,” Hua added.