BEIJING, Mar. 18 -- Let me make it clear to the Philippine side: edited footages and fabricated lies can never change China's sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao, including Huangyan Dao. They won't sway China's firm resolve in safeguarding our rights in accordance with the law. We will continue to take effective countermeasures in response to all rights-violation actions and provocations，said a Chinese defense spokesperson on March 18, 2026.

Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the above remarks on Wednesday in response to the recent action and statement made by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

On March 7, a PCG reconnaissance aircraft carrying journalists was reportedly warned off by the Chinese naval ships via radio communications during its patrol near Huangyan Dao. Besides, the PCG said it would conduct more patrols in the South China Sea and enhance public communications to increase transparency and counter what it describes as China's bullying.

In response, the Chinese defense spokesperson stressed that China has indisputable sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao, including Huangyan Dao, and their adjacent waters. China has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters. China's law-enforcement and rights-protection operations in waters within its jurisdiction are fully justified. In response to the recent rights-violation actions and provocations conducted by the PCG, the Chinese side took legitimate and lawful countermeasures that are professional and restrained.

He added that taking journalists on-board during its so-called patrol missions to film videos and play up the "victim's narrative" has become the not-so-surprising playbook for the Philippine side. The so-called transparency and exposure campaign is not about uncovering the truth to the world, but a self-directed farce.