Beijing Confirms Permission for Philippines to Evacuate Wounded from Island in South China Sea

Beijing, Oct 8 (KUNA) -- Beijing confirmed on Thursday that it had allowed the Philippines to evacuate a wounded person from an island in the South China Sea on “humanitarian” grounds. Xinhua News Agency quoted Jiang Wei, a spokesperson for the Chinese Coast Guard, in a statement saying that Philippine Coast Guard vessel No. 4409 sailed today to waters near the Ren’ai Jiao (Second Thomas Shoal) reef to evacuate a wounded person from a ship anchored “illegally.” Jiang added that China permitted the Philippines to transport the injured individual by sending a small boat, “out of humanitarian considerations,” noting that Beijing handled the situation “in accordance with the law” and provided the necessary facilitation. In this context, he reaffirmed that China “has indisputable sovereignty” over the Nansha Islands and their surrounding waters, including Ren’ai Jiao reef, and called on Manila to “immediately stop its violations and provocations.” It is worth noting that Philippine-Chinese relations have been marked by ongoing tensions due to the two countries’ disputes in the South China Sea and their overlapping maritime claims. (End) S.L.Q./M.A.A.