China denounces Philippines for 'illegal occupation' of reef
China condemned on Friday what it called the "illegal occupation" of a disputed coral reef by the Philippines, and vowed to protect its sovereignty after Manila moved new soldiers and supplies to the remote location.
The Second Thomas Shoal, known in China as the Ren'ai reef, is at the center of the latest territorial dispute between Beijing and Manila. Both countries have been locked in a decades-old territorial squabble over the South China Sea.
The Philippines is accusing China of encroachment after three Chinese ships, including a naval frigate, converged just 5 nautical miles from an old transport ship that Manila ran aground on a reef in 1999 to mark its territory.
"China's determination to safeguard its national sovereignty is resolute and unwavering and (we) will never accept any form of illegal occupation of the Ren'ai reef by the Philippines," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular briefing.
Philippine armed forces chief General Emmanuel Bautista told reporters on Wednesday the military had brought in a fresh team to replace soldiers stationed on the wrecked ship on the reef and replenished their supplies, including food, water and fuel.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/21/us-china-philippines-idUSBRE95K0E920130621
This was last week. So maybe China is poking us in the eye in return.
