South China Sea U.S.–China Military Coast Guard Military Diplomacy

【Bilingual】Ministry of National Defense: The Philippine Side's Illegal Schemes Cannot Possibly Succeed

【双语】国防部：菲方非法图谋不可能得逞

PLA Daily (解放军报) 30 July 2026

Summary

At the MND's July 30 routine press conference, Spokesperson Senior Colonel Jiang Bin responded to questions about Philippine government vessels entering waters near Huangyan Dao and the subsequent Philippines-U.S.-Japan trilateral 'joint patrols' in the area by reiterating China's territorial claim and warning that Philippine 'illegal schemes cannot possibly succeed.' The statement extends a well-documented pattern of MND press conference messaging that frames CCG enforcement actions as lawful expulsions and third-party involvement — here the U.S. and Japan explicitly — as illegitimate external backing for a losing cause. The framing points to deliberate elevation of the U.S.-Japan dimension beyond the bilateral Philippines-China dispute, though what specific operational posture the 'high state of alert' references remains unspecified.

Translation

MND: Illegitimate Attempts of the Philippine Side are Doomed to Fail

On the afternoon of July 30, the Ministry of National Defense held a routine press conference, at which Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Senior Colonel Jiang Bin answered questions from reporters.

Reporter: According to reports, Philippine government vessels have recently intruded multiple times into the waters under China's jurisdiction at Huangyan Dao, and the China Coast Guard lawfully expelled them. The Philippines, the United States, and Japan then conducted so-called "joint patrols" in the relevant waters and airspace. What is your comment on this?

Question: It was reported that recently, Philippine public vessels intruded into the waters under China's jurisdiction at Huangyan Dao multiple times. The China Coast Guard (CCG) took necessary countermeasures in accordance with the law to expel them. Later, the Philippines, the US, and Japan conducted so-called joint patrols in the relevant waters and airspace. What's your comment on this?

Jiang Bin: Defense and security cooperation among relevant countries should not target any third party, nor undermine regional peace and stability. Huangyan Dao is China's inherent territory. The territorial scope of the Philippines is defined by a series of international treaties, and Huangyan Dao lies outside that territorial scope. No matter what petty maneuvers the Philippine side engages in or whom it enlists to back it up, this objective fact cannot be changed, and its illegal schemes cannot possibly succeed. The Chinese military maintains a high state of alert, resolutely counters any rights-infringing and provocative acts, and defends national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests through concrete actions, safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Jiang Bin: Defense and security cooperation among relevant countries should not target at any third party, nor undermine regional peace and stability. Huangyan Dao is China's inherent territory. The Philippines' territorial scope is defined by a number of international treaties, and Huangyan Dao lies beyond that scope. This fact cannot be altered no matter what tricks the Philippine side plays, or whomever it courts for support. Its illegitimate attempts are doomed to fail. The Chinese military will always remain on high alert, resolutely counter any rights-violation and provocative acts, take concrete actions to safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Original Chinese

MND: Illegitimate Attempts of the Philippine Side are Doomed to Fail 7月30日下午，国防部举行例行记者会，国防部新闻发言人蒋斌大校答记者问。记者：据报道，近期菲律宾公务船多次侵闯中国黄岩岛管辖海域，中国海警依法予以驱离。菲美日位相关海域开展所谓“联合巡航”。请问对此有何评论？ Question:It was reported that recently, Philippine public vessels intruded into the waters under China's jurisdiction at Huangyan Dao multiple times. The China Coast Guard (CCG) took necessary countermeasures in accordance with the law to expel them. Later, the Philippines, the US, and Japan conducted so-called joint patrols in the relevant waters and airspace. What's your comment on this? 蒋斌：有关国家的防务安全合作不应针对第三方，不得损害地区和平稳定。黄岩岛是中国固有领土，菲律宾领土范围由一系列国际条约确定，黄岩岛在其领土范围之外。无论菲方搞什么小动作、拉谁站台，都改变不了这一客观事实，非法图谋也不可能得逞。中国军队保持高度戒备，坚决反制任何侵权挑衅行径，以实际行动捍卫国家领土主权和海洋权益，维护南海和平稳定。 Jiang Bin:Defense and security cooperation among relevant countries should not target at any third party, nor undermine regional peace and stability. Huangyan Dao is China's inherent territory. The Philippines' territorial scope is defined by a number of international treaties, and Huangyan Dao lies beyond that scope. This fact cannot be altered no matter what tricks the Philippine side plays, or whomever it courts for support. Its illegitimate attempts are doomed to fail. The Chinese military will always remain on high alert, resolutely counter any rights-violation and provocative acts, take concrete actions to safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea.