FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Aerial shots of Tian'anmen Rostrum, Chinese national flag, traffic

Beijing, China - March 14, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman, Ministry of National Defense:
"China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters, and has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters. China has always been committed to maintaining regional peace and stability. In fact, there has never been any problem with freedom of navigation or overflight in the South China Sea. However, the Philippines has persistently infringed upon China's rights and provoked China, and some non-regional countries have continued to stir up trouble, making the South China Sea unstable. China remains unwavering in its determination to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and has a wealth of options in its toolbox. We advise the Philippine side not to misjudge the situation, immediately abandon its futile, risky provocations, and return to the right track of properly resolving differences through dialogue."
3. Press conference in progress

China urges the Philippines to stop making further risky and futile provocations in the South China Sea, and to return to the right track of properly resolving differences through dialogue, said Defense Ministry Spokesman Zhang Xiaogang at a press conference in Beijing on Friday.

Zhang's remarks came in response to reports that the Philippine Defense Minister said that China's "aggression" in the disputed waters is the biggest threat to Philippines' national security, claiming that the Philippines will work with its security allies to counter any "aggressive attempts" by China and take measures to counter any effort by China to establish an air defense zone or restrict freedom of flight in the South China Sea.

"China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters, and has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters. China has always been committed to maintaining regional peace and stability. In fact, there has never been any problem with freedom of navigation or overflight in the South China Sea. However, the Philippines has persistently infringed upon China's rights and provoked China, and some non-regional countries have continued to stir up trouble, making the South China Sea unstable. China remains unwavering in its determination to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and has a wealth of options in its toolbox. We advise the Philippine side not to misjudge the situation, immediately abandon its futile, risky provocations, and return to the right track of properly resolving differences through dialogue," he said.