The spokesperson of the Chinese Coast Guard issued a statement on the Philippine invasion of the Iron Line Reef

On October 12, Liu Dejun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Coast Guard, said that on October 12, Philippine official ships No. 3002 and No. 3003 illegally entered the waters near the Iron Line Reef in China's Nansha Islands without the permission of the Chinese government. At 9:19, the Philippine ship 3003 ignored China's many solemn warnings and dangerously approached the Chinese Coast Guard ship 21559, which is normally exercising rights and law enforcement, resulting in a collision, and the responsibility was entirely on the Philippine side. The Chinese Coast Guard took control measures against the Philippine ship and firmly expelled it in accordance with the law. The on-site operation was professional, standardized, reasonable and legal. China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, including the Iron Line Reef, and its adjacent waters. The actions of the Philippine side seriously violated China's territorial sovereignty, violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and undermined peace We warn the Philippines to immediately stop the infringement and nuisance. The Chinese Coast Guard will carry out rights protection and law enforcement activities in the waters under China's jurisdiction in accordance with the law.