The Ministry of Foreign Affairs responds to the joint statement of the United States, Japan, and South Korea: strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposed to peace | Country | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
On August 21st, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin presided over a regular press conference.
A reporter asked that last weekend, leaders of the United States, Japan, and South Korea criticized China's maritime claims and recent measures taken in the South China Sea in a joint statement, claiming that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are indispensable elements for international security and prosperity. What is China's comment on this?
Wang Wenbin stated that the David Camp meeting between the leaders of the United States, Japan, and South Korea carried out smear attacks on China on issues related to Taiwan and the sea, rudely interfering in China's internal affairs, deliberately provoking China's relations with neighboring countries, and seriously violating the basic norms of international relations. China expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition, and has made solemn representations to relevant parties. We have also noticed that the US side has stated that the US Japan South Korea partnership does not target any country. China urges the US to act in unison, implement the statement of not seeking to strengthen the alliance against China, stop smearing China's image, damaging China's interests, stop creating separatist confrontation, and undermining regional peace and stability.
Wang Wenbin pointed out that there are currently two trends in the Asia Pacific region. One is the efforts of regional countries represented by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement to strengthen unity and cooperation and promote regional economic integration construction; Another type is the behavior of inciting division and confrontation, attempting to revive Cold War thinking, represented by various closed and exclusive "small circles" such as the United States, Britain, Australia, the United States, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Japan, India, and Australia. Unfortunately, the former cannot see the presence of the United States, while the latter is centered around Washington.
He stated that the Asia Pacific region is a highland for peaceful development and should not become a boxing ground for major powers to compete, let alone a battlefield for the hot war of the Cold War. All attempts to provoke a new Cold War in the Asia Pacific region will be resolutely resisted by regional countries and people, and all actions to establish and maintain hegemony in the Asia Pacific region are destined to end in failure. We advise relevant countries not to move against the current, not to attempt to replicate the camp confrontation model in the Asia Pacific region, and not to sacrifice the strategic security interests of other countries and the well-being of the people in the Asia Pacific region to safeguard their own interests.
China insists on striving for the prospect of peaceful reunification across the Taiwan Strait with utmost sincerity and effort, but will never accept any person or force interfering in China's internal affairs under the guise of peace.No one should underestimate the strong determination, firm will, and strong ability of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He pointed out that China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and their adjacent waters. It is reasonable and lawful for China to carry out construction activities in its own territory, and for China's maritime police ships to carry out rights protection and law enforcement activities in the waters under China's jurisdiction. As a contracting party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, China has always faithfully fulfilled international law, including the Convention, and does not accept or recognize illegal awards in the South China Sea arbitration case. In recent years, the United States has been actively intervening in the South China Sea issue, encouraging and supporting individual countries in maritime infringement, stirring up regional relations, and is a disruptor and disruptor of regional order. The United States has also gathered allies to frequently conduct military exercises and close reconnaissance in the waters surrounding China, including the South China Sea, to show off its power and exacerbate regional tensions, which has become the biggest threat and challenge to regional peace and stability. China will continue to firmly safeguard its sovereignty and security interests, and work with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of All Parties in the South China Sea. We will actively promote consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, engage in practical cooperation related to the sea, firmly maintain peace and stability in the region, and strive to promote prosperity and development in the region.
