Distorting and exaggerating the maritime situation and promoting its wrong stance on maritime issues, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the Philippine President’s speech on South China Sea issues: ignoring history and facts

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Philippine President Marcos

Delivered a speech on South China Sea issues at the Shangri-La Dialogue and answered reporters’ questions

Q: Philippine President Marcos delivered a keynote speech at the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue, explaining the so-called legal basis for the Philippines’ territorial scope. He claimed that both the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the South China Sea Arbitration Award recognized the Philippines’ legitimate rights and were the cornerstone of the Philippines’ South China Sea policy. . What is China’s response to this?

A: The Philippine side's relevant statement ignores history and facts, promotes its wrong position on maritime affairs, and distorts and exaggerates maritime events. I would like to clarify China’s position as follows:

First, China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters. China was the first to discover, name, develop and utilize the South China Sea Islands and related waters, and was the first to begin and continue to exercise sovereignty and jurisdiction over the South China Sea Islands and related waters in a peaceful and effective manner. China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea have sufficient historical and legal basis. China's normal patrolling, law enforcement, production operations and other activities in the waters under its jurisdiction are in compliance with international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and are beyond reproach.

Second, the Philippines’ territorial scope does not include the South China Sea Islands. The territorial scope of the Philippines is governed by the 1898 Spanish-American Peace Treaty, the 1900 Spanish-American Treaty on the Cession of the Outlying Islands of the Philippines, and the 1930 Treaty Delimiting the Boundary Between British North Borneo and the American Philippines. ” determined by a series of international treaties including China's Nansha Islands and Scarborough Shoal are not within the territorial scope of the Philippines as stipulated in the above-mentioned treaties. The Philippines has occupied some of the islands and reefs of China's Nansha Islands by force, and has made illegal territorial claims to some of the islands and reefs of China's Scarborough Shoal and Nansha Islands through the so-called Archipelago Baseline Act and other domestic legislation. It has seriously violated China's sovereignty and sovereign rights and seriously violated the Charter of the United Nations. China firmly opposes domestic international law.

Third, the so-called award in the South China Sea arbitration case is illegal and invalid. The Philippines unilaterally initiated international arbitration without the consent of the Chinese government, violating international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. The arbitral tribunal in the South China Sea arbitration case overstepped its jurisdiction and made a ruling in violation of the law. The award it made is illegal and invalid. China does not accept or participate in the South China Sea arbitration case, nor does it accept or recognize the award, nor does it accept any claims or actions based on the award. China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea will not be affected by this ruling under any circumstances. The Philippines regards the illegal ruling as a waste of paper, which will not help solve the maritime disputes between China and the Philippines, and will not add any legitimacy to its illegal claims.

Fourth, the responsibility for the recent escalation of the South China Sea issue between China and the Philippines lies entirely with the Philippines. The Philippines has violated its own commitments and the consensus reached by China and the Philippines, violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, gone back on its word and betrayed its word; frequently engaged in maritime infringements, provocations and caused troubles; collaborated with foreign forces in the South China Sea to form gangs and show off force; and spread slanders and slanders against China. False information misleads the international community. It should be pointed out that out of geopolitical selfish interests, the United States supports and cooperates with the Philippines' infringements and uses the South China Sea issue to sow discord between China and regional countries, playing a very disgraceful role. People with a discerning eye can clearly see who the current Philippine foreign policy serves and who its maritime operations serve. Deceiving oneself and others will not allow the Philippines to win the trust of the international community. Countries in the region should remain highly vigilant and firmly hold the initiative for peace and stability in the South China Sea in their own hands.

Fifth, currently, with the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea remains generally stable. There is no problem with the freedom of navigation and overflight enjoyed by all countries in accordance with the law. China is willing to continue to work with ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, to manage maritime differences, deepen maritime-related cooperation, fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, actively promote consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, and ensure peace and stability in the South China Sea. Build a sea of ​​peace, friendship and cooperation.

Sixth, China will continue to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and at the same time, always insist on properly resolving maritime-related conflicts and differences through negotiation and consultation with the countries directly concerned on the basis of respecting historical facts. We urge the Philippines to honor its commitments, abide by the territorial scope determined by international treaties, fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, immediately stop maritime infringements and provocations, and return to the right track of properly handling maritime conflicts and differences through dialogue and consultation as soon as possible.