At a Sept. 15 regular briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said
features including Mischief Reef, Cuarteron Reef and Zhongye Island in the
Spratly Islands are inherent Chinese territory and that China’s construction
activities on its territory are within its sovereign rights and lawful. He said
Philippine territory is defined by a series of international treaties and the
Spratlys have never been part of Philippine territory; under the
international-law principle that land rules the sea, Manila’s asserted maritime
jurisdiction over Chinese territory is illegal and unfounded. China will
continue to take resolute measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and
maritime rights and oppose any infringements.
