China urges Philippine side to immediately stop provocations, smear campaigns

BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The China Coast Guard (CCG) on Wednesday urged the Philippine side to immediately stop provocations and smear campaigns in the territorial waters off China's Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea.

The CCG recently conducted routine rights-protection and law-enforcement training in the territorial waters near Huangyan Dao and issued a navigation safety notification in advance in accordance with the law, said Liu Dejun, spokesperson of the CCG.

However, during the exercise, a lot of Philippine vessels converged on the training area under the pretext of "fishing," trying to create incidents, incite and hype the situation, and attract international attention, Liu said.

Liu said that the CCG will continue to carry out rights-protection and law-enforcement operations in the territorial waters off Huangyan Dao in accordance with the law and is determined to safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.