China urges Philippines to end 'provocations' in South China Sea

A Philippines coast guard member inside its ship, BRP Sindangan, looking at a China's coast guard ship which was shadowing them at the disputed South China Sea on Oct 4, 2023. - AP

BEIJING (Reuters): China on Monday (Oct 9) warned the Philippines against further "provocations" at an atoll in the South China Sea, saying such acts had violated Chinese territorial sovereignty, contravened international law and disrupted regional peace and stability.

The Philippines' territory is defined by a series of international treaties, and the atoll has never been part of its territory, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a strongly worded statement, referring to the atoll as Renai Reef.