Mainland denounces DPP for siding with external forces over Ren’ai Reef

A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday condemned the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan for joining external forces in smearing the mainland over the Philippines' recent deliberate provocation at Ren'ai Reef.

At a regular news conference, Zhang Han, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said Ren'ai Reef is part of China's Nansha Islands and is Chinese territory.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Taiwan's external affairs department accused the mainland of "using force to injure" Philippine personnel and said the island opposes any attempts or actions to "unilaterally change the status quo through the use of force, coercion or 'gray zone' harassment".

In response, Zhang said the mainland's relevant authorities have promptly clarified the facts and released footage from the scene showing the Philippines' deliberate provocations at Ren'ai Reef and its assault on China Coast Guard personnel.

On Monday, the China Coast Guard said two Philippine rubber boats approached a Chinese patrol vessel near Ren'ai Reef at high speed in a dangerous manner, attempting to surround and ram it. Philippine personnel aboard the boats attacked Chinese law enforcement officers using tools such as paddles and long poles. The Philippine side later distorted the facts and falsely accused China, according to the CCG.

"The incident once again exposes the DPP authorities' malicious nature of forgetting their roots and seeking 'Taiwan independence' by relying on external forces," Zhang said.

She criticized the DPP authorities for abandoning the interests of the Chinese nation and joining external forces in distorting the facts and smearing the mainland.