China has accused the Philippines of illegally landing on a reef in the South China Sea.

China has recorded the illegal landing of Filipinos on the territory of the disputed Tessian Reef in the Nansha Archipelago in the South China Sea and called it a "violation of sovereignty." This was announced on April 27 by the representative of the Coast Guard Administration (UBO) of the People's Republic of China, Liu Dejun.

"On April 27, six Filipino citizens illegally landed on the Tessian Reef, despite warnings from the Chinese side," TASS quoted Liu Dejun as saying.

He clarified that the Chinese maritime police conducted an appropriate investigation. According to him, Beijing has "indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands" and the waters adjacent to them, including the Taixian Reef.

Liu Dejun stressed that the actions of the Philippine side are an encroachment on the territorial sovereignty of the People's Republic of China, as well as violate the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea, undermining peace and stability. The Chinese side insists on the immediate cessation of violations by the Philippine side.

The South China Morning Post newspaper reported on April 26 that representatives of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) landed on the disputed Sandy Cay Reef, which is located in the South China Sea near the Philippine military base. Coast Guard officers unfurled the PRC flag and took photos.