China accuses Philippines of lying over South China Sea incident

A Chinese defense spokesman accused the Philippines on Wednesday evening of "telling blatant lies" and "playing the victim while being the aggressor" after the Philippine defense chief denied that Filipino personnel threatened China Coast Guard officers with knives near Xianbin Reef in the South China Sea.

Defense Ministry spokesman Jiang Bin made the remarks in a statement responding to Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, who said Tuesday that China's maritime forces had carried out "dangerous and inhumane actions" against "Filipino fishers" in waters near Xianbin Reef on Friday. Teodoro also denied that Philippine personnel had threatened Chinese officers with knives.

Jiang said the Philippine side had "organized and premeditated" the mobilization of a large number of vessels to illegally enter the lagoon of Xianbin Reef. He said Philippine personnel on the scene threatened Chinese coast guard officers with knives, calling it a "brazen and egregious act."

"China took necessary measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, which were reasonable, lawful, professional and restrained," Jiang said.

According to the China Coast Guard, several Philippine vessels on Friday, under the pretext of fishing, deliberately sailed into waters near Xianbin Reef in China's Nansha Islands to engage in "provocative actions," despite repeated warnings.

"Facing the facts, certain people on the Philippine side are telling blatant lies and making excuses for their own infringement and provocations," Jiang said. He added that the Philippines had instead accused China, "completely turning black into white and playing the victim while being the aggressor."

Jiang reiterated China's claim that it has "indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, including Xianbin Reef, and their adjacent waters," which is supported by historical and legal grounds.

He said the Philippine side has for some time repeatedly stirred up trouble at sea, staging "self-directed farces" while smearing and accusing China in an attempt to disrupt the situation in the South China Sea and undermine regional stability.

Jiang warned that "staging incidents, playing up hardship and hyping up propaganda" would not change the Philippine side's illegal actions, mislead the international community or shake China's resolve to safeguard its rights in accordance with the law.

"China will continue to take firm and effective measures to respond to all acts of infringement and provocation," he said.