The Chinese military has vowed to "fulfill their duty" to safeguard the South China Sea.
"China's military forces will collaborate closely with related governing bodies, including fishery administration andmaritime law enforcement, to jointly ensure the country's maritime rights and interests," the China Daily quoted Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng, as saying.
This was the first official remark from the armed forces of China following a standoff with a Philippine warship in waters off China's Huangyan Island on April 10.nalysts claimed that the comments were also in response to growing domestic demand to ensure sovereignty in the South China Sea.
According to reports, China has sent a nuclear-powered submarine to the South China Sea, which wasn't either confirmed or denied by China.
However, Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie said that any military action will be based on the needs of diplomacy.
Earlier, on April 10, 12 Chinese fishing boats were harassed by a Philippine warship while taking refuge from stormy weather in a lagoon near the island. Later, two Chinese patrol ships in the area to rescue the fishermen's, and the warship left.he Chinese fishermen returned home, but the standoff still continued, with Philippine vessels reportedly still in China's territorial waters till Thursday.
Beijing has reiterated its willingness to settle the dispute through diplomatic consultation as the Foreign Ministry once again, has called Manila to "jointly work to de-escalate" the situation.
However, Manila's claim over the island by saying that the island is "within" its so-called exclusive economic zone, was regarded both "groundless" and not applicable to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea by China. (ANI)
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