China on Friday hit back at the Philippines for describing the Taiping Dao island in the South China Sea as a 'rock,' saying that Beijing has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and its adjacent waters, including Taiping Dao.

Responding to a media query during a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the Philippines' attempt to characterize Taiping Dao as a rock is a violation of international law and is totally unacceptable.

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"The Philippines' attempt to characterize Taiping Dao as a rock exposed that its purpose of initiating the arbitration is to deny China's sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and relevant maritime rights and interests," Hua said.

She added that the fact that Chinese people are working and living on Taiping Dao proves that Taiping Dao is an 'island' which is capable of sustaining human habitation or economic life of its own.

"China has, based on the Nansha Islands as a whole, territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. Over the history, Chinese fishermen have resided on Taiping Dao for years, working and living there, carrying out fishing activities, digging wells for fresh water, cultivating land and farming, building huts and temples, and raising livestock," she noted.

Hua's remarks come in response to the Filipino government's argument at the Haque-based Permanent Court of Arbitration that Taiping Dai is a rock. The Philippines is questioning China's claim to the South China Sea in its case at the international arbitration court. China, on the other hand, has refused to participate in the case or recognize the jurisdiction of the court, and maintains that it has 'indisputable sovereignty' over the South China Sea.

Tagschina, Philippines, South China Sea, Taiping Dao, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying