Beijing rebuffs Philippine president’s call to rethink conduct in S. China Sea

China rebuffed Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for Beijing to rethink its conduct in the South China Sea on Thursday. The Foreign Ministry said China has the right to react to foreign ships or aircraft that get close to its islands, Reuters reported. Duterte said China has no right to repel foreign aircraft and boats passing by its artificial islands in the disputed waterway. According to China’s ministry, the Spratly Islands are the country’s inherent territory, and Beijing respects the right to freedom of navigation and overflight that all countries enjoy in the South China Sea under international law. “But China has a right to take necessary steps to respond to foreign aircraft and ships that deliberately get close to or make incursions into the air and waters near China’s relevant islands, and provocative actions that threaten the security of Chinese personnel stationed there,” the statement said.