China's Ministry of National Defense strongly criticized the Philippines on Wednesday for dispatching vessels to illegally enter the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao in the South China Sea, calling the actions a "thief crying stop thief" provocation. Defense spokesperson Jiang Bin stated that Philippine personnel brandished knives at Chinese coast guard officers during the incident, describing the behavior as "utterly egregious in nature."
Jiang emphasized that China's maritime law enforcement measures were "necessary, reasonable, lawful, professional, and restrained" responses to protect territorial sovereignty. The remarks follow Manila's accusations against Chinese operations near the reef, which Beijing asserts is an inherent part of its territory.
The escalation highlights ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, a critical waterway for global trade and energy transport. Analysts note that such incidents could influence regional stability and international maritime security discussions in 2025.
