China rejects Philippines' new nautical chart covering Nansha islands and reefs

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun slammed attempts by the Philippines to harm China's sovereignty, rights, and interests on Tuesday, saying that China will continue to take necessary measures to resolutely defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.

Guo made the remarks at a regular news briefing following reports that the Philippines released a new nautical chart covering China's Nansha Islands.

Zhongye Island and Mahuan Island are parts of China's Nansha Islands and are China's territory, Guo noted. "China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters," he said.

"The Philippines' territorial scope is defined by a series of international treaties," Guo said. "China's South China Sea islands, including the Nansha Islands, fall outside the Philippines' territorial limits."

He noted that the Philippines has illegally occupied parts of China's Nansha Islands, overstepped its own territorial scope by delineating the so-called Kalayaan island group, and issued the chart covering relevant Nansha islands and reefs.

Such moves "seriously infringe upon China's territorial sovereignty, violate the United Nations Charter and relevant international law, and are illegal, null, and void," he said.