ISTANBUL

Manila on Thursday urged China to respect the Philippines' jurisdiction in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

"The Philippines is clearly within its rights to conduct routine maritime operations and scientific research in and around these features, and will continue to do so," due to the "fundamental fact" that the "Pag-asa Island and the Pag-asa Cays form part of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), which is an integral part of the Philippines over which it has longstanding sovereignty and jurisdiction," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Teresita Daza in a statement.

The comments followed recent remarks by the Chinese Embassy in Manila on the Philippines' actions around the Thitu (Pag-asa) Island -- Zhongye Dao in Chinese and Dao Thị Tur in Vietnamese.

The Chinese Embassy said on its Facebook account Monday that Manila made 27 "unauthorized landings involving 167 personnel on uninhabited features in the South China Sea" since January.

The Philippines' Foreign Ministry "rejects and refutes" the remarks, the spokeswoman said.

The Philippines' actions "are a valid exercise of Philippine sovereignty and consistent with international law," said Daza, also urging Beijing "to respect the Philippines’ sovereignty and jurisdiction, even as we continue to pursue peaceful and legal means to manage differences and the situation at sea."

"China has no right to object, much less interfere with these lawful and routine activities," the spokeswoman said.

Territorial disputes in the South China Sea involve conflicting islands and maritime claims in the region by several states, including China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.