Chinese government condemns Philippines’ push for arbitration

Chinese government has condemned the decision made by Philippines to opt for unilateral arbitration instead of discussions and negotiations to resolve South China Sea dispute.

Philippines approached Permanent Court of Arbitration situated in Hague, Netherlands in 2013. And the institution made the decision to see into the case last year.

Chinese Ambassador to Maldives, Wang Fukang issued a press statement regarding the South China Sea Arbitration case on Monday, in which he said that the islands and reefs in South China Sea belonged historically to them.

He noted that restoration of Nansha Islands from Japan had been an important victory for them in their effort to fight off prejudices and misunderstandings over the issue. And said that restoration of Nansha Islands was announced in both Potsdam Proclamation and Cairo Declaration.

“Philippines coveted the oil and gas resources in the South China Sea, wantonly violated the UN Charters and invaded and illegally occupied 8 islands and reefs of China since 1970s,” said Wang; accusing Philippines of initiating the arbitration and denying China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights to mislead the international community.

Wang said that Philippines was taking advantage of the relevant stipulations of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and was claiming ownership of the islands and reefs it had invaded and illegally occupied.

He said that paragraph 4 of Declaration of Conduct on the South China Sea (DOC) signed by China and ASEAN Member States, including the Philippines, in 2002, clearly stipulated that parties concerned undertake to resolve their territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means, through friendly consultations and negotiations by sovereign states directly concerned.

And that Philippines issued a statement jointly with China in 2011 to resolve disputes through negotiations and consultations.

“Now, the Philippines unilaterally initiated the arbitration. It is an act dishonoring its commitment to China and the world,” said Wang in his statement.

He said that the Chinese government neither accepted not recognized the South China Sea Arbitration.

Wang said that it was the Chinese people who discovered and developed the South China Sea Islands and Reefs and linked them to the outside world.

He said that South China Sea was key to maintaining peace and prosperity as they push for the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

“China has never disseminated conflicts and confrontations. The Chinese side urges the Philippines side to think from the perspective of the overall situation, address the South China Sea issue in a more constructive way and return to the track of negotiations and consultations,” said Wang.