Beijing reiterates Tiexian Reef part of China's Nansha Islands

Tiexian Reef, an uninhabited reef, is part of China's Nansha Islands, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Monday, adding that China's law enforcement at the reef aims at safeguarding its own territory and sovereignty.

Guo made the remarks at a regular news conference, responding to a question about whether China will issue the baseline of the territorial sea at the reef.

China's law enforcement also aims to counter the illegal landing on the reef by the Philippine side and ensure the reef remains uninhabited and no equipment is installed there, so as to uphold the seriousness of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, Guo said.

Guo's remarks came a day after the China Coast Guard handled an illegal landing by six people from the Philippines.

The people disregarded warnings from the Chinese side and landed on Tiexian Reef on Sunday, and the China Coast Guard went on the reef according to law to investigate and handle the situation, China Coast Guard spokesman Liu Dejun said.