South China Sea

Ministry of National Defense: Resolutely Safeguard Our Own Territorial Sovereignty and Maritime Rights and Interests

国防部：坚决维护自身领土主权和海洋权益

PLA Daily (解放军报) 18 May 2026

Summary

At the May 18 MND press conference, spokesperson Senior Colonel Jiang Bin responded to satellite imagery reports showing Philippine infrastructure upgrades on Thitu Island (中业岛) and Mauhon Island (马欢岛) in the Nansha Islands, specifically a shelter harbor expansion and runway extension, by reiterating China's sovereignty claim and warning of 'necessary measures.' The statement names both islands explicitly and pairs the sovereignty assertion with an open-ended action threat, a formulation that documents Beijing's public posture toward Philippine construction activity but leaves the nature, timing, and scale of any response unspecified.

Translation

On the afternoon of May 18, Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Senior Colonel Jiang Bin released a statement on recent military-related issues.

Reporter: According to reports, satellite imagery shows that the Philippines is accelerating infrastructure upgrades on the Nansha islands and reefs it has illegally occupied, with plans to expand a shelter harbor on Mauhon Island (马欢岛) and extend the runway on Thitu Island (中业岛). What is your comment on this?

Jiang Bin: China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and the adjacent waters. We firmly oppose the Philippine side's construction activities on all Chinese islands and reefs under illegal occupation, including Thitu Island and Mauhon Island, and will take necessary measures to safeguard our own territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Original Chinese

5月18日下午，国防部新闻发言人蒋斌大校就近期涉军问题发布消息。记者：据报道，卫星图像显示菲律宾正加紧在非法侵占的南沙岛礁上升级基础设施，其计划在马欢岛扩建避风港，并延长中业岛跑道。请问对此有何评论？蒋斌：中国对南沙群岛及其附近海域拥有无可争辩的主权。我们坚决反对菲方在包括中业岛、马欢岛在内的一切被非法侵占的中国岛礁上开展建设活动，将采取必要措施维护自身领土主权和海洋权益。