On the 16th, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs stated that it rejects Beijing’s claim of jurisdiction over the entire South China Sea, emphasizing that Manila holds "indivisible, indisputable, and longstanding sovereignty" over Scarborough Shoal (called Huangyan Island by China) and Pag-asa Island (called Zhongye Island by China).
According to foreign media reports, Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Villanueva said at a briefing: "China must be reminded that maritime and territorial claims should be addressed through established international legal processes and dispute settlement mechanisms, not through unilateral declarations or social media posts."
Previously, on February 28, China Coast Guard announced on its official Weibo that one of its vessels conducted a law enforcement patrol in the waters of Huangyan Island and surrounding areas that day. It also stated that since February, law enforcement patrols in the waters of Huangyan Island and neighboring regions have been continuously strengthened, and unauthorized or infringing vessels have been dealt with in accordance with the law and regulations. The China Coast Guard also conducted law enforcement patrols in the aforementioned area on January 30.
According to other foreign media reports, on February 21, Philippine Senator Hontiveros and Coast Guard spokesperson Tarriela led a team to inspect Pag-asa Island. They met with island residents and reiterated that Pag-asa Island belongs to the Philippines.