China calls for clear understanding of history, facts of South China Sea

From GMA News (Feb 20): China calls for clear understanding of history, facts of South China Sea

China's foreign ministry has urged concerned countries to study and get clear understanding of the history and basic facts of South China Sea.

"The Yongxing Island is an inherent territory of China. From 1959 on, the Chinese government set up administrative offices and related government facilities on the Yongxing Island. For years, China has been carrying out constructions and been deploy necessary defense facilities. Some concerned countries and people should get clear understanding of the history and basic facts of South China Sea before making remarks," said Hong Lei, a spokesman for the foreign ministry.

Hong made the comments at a routine press briefing on Friday, responding to the remarks made by US State Department spokesman John Kirby, who said the missiles on Yongxing Island -- the largest island in the Xisha Islands group in the South China Sea -- was installed recently and there was no sign of China stopping militarizing the island. Yongxing is known as the Woody Island while Xisha Islands group is the disputed Paracel Islands.

Hong added that China has ample historical and jurisprudential evidences on the sovereignty over the Nansha islands and their adjacent seas.

China's stance of non-militarization in the Nansha Islands is conscientious and serious.

"The current situation is that, the United State constantly increases its military force in South China Sea, frequently sends out military vessels or planes to the South China Sea to carry out high-frequency close-up military reconnaissance, and sends out guided missile destroyers and strategic bombers to the Nansha Islands and its nearby seas and airs. It also allures and presses its allies and partners to carry out joint military drills and cruises in South China Sea. The mentioned activities have intensifies the situation in the South China Sea and militarized the South China Sea," said Hong.

Nansha is called the disputed Spratlys Islands. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday said that demilitarization in the South China Sea should not be about only one country and there should be no double standards or multiple standards. He added that it requires countries in and out of the region to work together. 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/556009/news/world/china-calls-for-clear-understanding-of-history-facts-of-south-china-sea