China on Tuesday reacted to the Philippines' criticism of lighthouses constructed by it in the South China Sea, saying "these actions do not change the status quo there".
"China holds indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha islands and their surrounding waters. There is no need for us to bolster a sovereignty claim through building lighthouses," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.
She reiterated that China's construction completely falls within its own sovereignty, Xinhua news agency reported.
China is building civilian and international public facilities on its own territory with the aim of better serving coastal nations in the South China Sea and passing vessels from around the world, Hua said.
The lighthouses on Huayang and Chigua reefs went into operation on October 10.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app