China drives away Philippine naval gunboat for intrusion

China expelled a Philippine naval gunboat for intruding into waters near Huangyan Island in South China Sea, a spokesman said on Tuesday morning.

China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu said in a statement that a Philippine navy gunboat on Tuesday insisted on trespassing into the waters adjacent to China's Huangyan Island, despite repeated dissuasion and warnings from the Chinese side.

China Coast Guard vessels, after multiple verbal warnings that proved ineffective, lawfully took necessary measures such as following and monitoring, warning off and route controlling, to drive away the Philippine warship, he said.

The operation was conducted professionally, in accordance with regulations, and legitimately, the spokesman added.

Gan said that China holds indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Island and its adjacent waters, and has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters.

The actions of the Philippine side violated Chinese sovereignty and seriously contravened international law and basic norms of international relations, said the statement, urging the Philippine side to immediately stop its acts of infringement.

China Coast Guard will continue to carry out law enforcement activities to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests within Chinese jurisdictional waters, in accordance with the law.