China on Thursday dismissed the Philippines' protest against the establishment of a national nature reserve on Huangyan Dao, reiterating that the island is China's inherent territory.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the move is fully within China's sovereignty and aims to protect the island's ecological environment and biodiversity, in line with both domestic and international law. He added that it reflects China's role as a responsible major country committed to sustainable development.

Lin stressed that the extent of the Philippines' territory had long been settled through international treaties, and Huangyan Dao was never part of it. He urged Manila to stop "infringement, provocations and willful hype" to avoid adding complexity to the maritime situation.

China on Wednesday announced its approval of a plan to establish the Huangyan Dao national nature reserve, saying it's a necessary measure to protect its marine ecological environment.