Renaming will not affect China's sovereignty

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday that the Philippine government's move to rename a portion of the South China Sea will not affect China's sovereignty over areas within the sea.

"The move will not change China's sovereignty over the Nansha islands, Huangyan Island and their surrounding waters," spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular news briefing.

"The name 'South China Sea' has long been acknowledged by the international community," Hong said.

On Sept. 5, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III signed an administrative order to formally name a maritime area in the western part of the country as the "West Philippine Sea," including part of the South China Sea.

According to the order, the West Philippine Sea includes the Luzon Sea and waters adjacent to the Nansha Islands and Huangyan Island.

The Philippine government said it will provide the UN with a copy of the order and a revised official map of the Philippines.