China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei on Wednesday admitted that Beijing sent a 'salvage ships'  to the disputed Jackson Atoll in the Spratly Group of Islands in the South China Sea to remove an abandoned 'foreign vessel' that ran aground on the shoal in 2015.

The statement was made after Philippine media claimed that China had invaded the disputed island by sending ships around the atoll and preventing Filipino fishermen from accessing their traditional fishing grounds in nearby waters.

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Aside from sending ships to the Jackson Atoll (known as Wufang Jiao in Chinese), Beijing also confirmed that the ships had chased away the Filipino fishermen for their own safety.

                                                                   Navigation safety

"If the vessel was left aground for a long time, it might cause possible impediment to navigation safety and damage to the marine environment," Hong explained. "Therefore, China's  rescue and salvage vessels of Ministry of Transport recently sent salvage ships to tug the grounded vessel out of the shallow water for proper disposal."

The mayor of the Pagasa island in the Spratlys confirmed to Reuters that China has around seven ships near Jackson Atoll.

                                                               'Indisputable sovereignty'

Hong said Beijing advised the fishermen to stay away from the nearby waters to prevent possible accidents and ensure navigation security and operation safety.

The spokesman said the Chinese vessels returned to the atoll after the salvage operation, however, he did not indicate the reason for their return.

Hong reiterated China's ' indisputable sovereignty' over the whole of Spratly group of Islands which includes the 'Jackson Atoll (Wufang Jiao) and the nearby waters.'

                                                                Chinese control

Military analysts said that China's sending of salvage ships and the act of towing away a foreign vessel that had run aground in the island, while intended for navigational safety, clearly demonstrates Beijing claim of sovereignty and control of the Jackson Atoll.

The Philippine fishermen claimed that they were chased away by the Chinese ships not for safety measures but to prevent them from gaining access to their traditional fishing grounds.

"The Chinese are trying to choke us by putting an imaginary checkpoint on Jackson Atoll," the Pagasa mayor is quoted saying.

                                                              Huge deposits

China is laying claim to a large portion of the South China Sea, which is believed to have huge deposits of oil and gas. Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei, Philippines, and Vietnam all have overlapping claims.

Vietnam recently lodged a complaint against Beijing before the UN for repeatedly violating 'Vietnam sovereignty' to the Woody Island which is part of the Paracels, the largest group of islands in the disputed South China Sea. 

TagsJackson Atoll, Filipino fishermen, South China Sea, navigation safety, china