China envoy lays out position in maritime dispute

From the Daily Tribune (May 22): China envoy lays out position in maritime dispute

Contrary to Washington’s claim, a Chinese official yesterday said Beijing is committed to peace and stability in the disputed South China Sea, and desires to solve disputes peacefully through negotiation.

The Philippines has taken China to a United Nations-backed tribunal over the dispute, with a ruling expected in the middle of this year. Beijing has said it does not recognize the case.

In a speech at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London,  Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom Liu Xiaoming stressed China has long exercised “a high-level of self-restraint and forbearance” regarding the territorial disputes in the region.

“We have always approached the disputes in a constructive and responsible manner. If China had not maintained self-restraint, the South China Sea would not be what it is today,” news agency Xinhua quoted Liu as telling his audience.

Expounding on China’s position and policy, Liu said the islands and reefs in the South China Sea have belonged to China since ancient times.

China was the first to discover the islands in the South China Sea, the first to name the islands, the first to exercise administrative jurisdiction in the South China Sea, and also the first to develop the islands, he stressed.

“The aforementioned four ‘Firsts’ are based on substantial and concrete historical evidence. They testify to the fact that the islands of the South China Sea have long been Chinese territory,” he added.

Beijing has been building islets in the South China Sea into artificial islands with military facilities including radar systems and airstrips.

Regional neighbors such as the Philippines and Vietnam have rival claims and the United States says China’s assertions have no basis in law.

Washington — which has embarked on a foreign policy “pivot” toward Asia — fears Beijing is seeking to impose military controls over the entire area.

The Philippines has approached the issue through unilaterally arbitration, which China rejects.
“China’s rejection of the arbitration is an act of exercising its legitimate rights empowered by international law.”

China and the Philippines reached a number of bilateral agreements on resolving disputes, according to the diplomat.

In the Declaration of Conduct reached between China and the Philippines and other Asean countries, it is clearly stipulated that “the parties concerned undertake to resolve their territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means,” he stressed.

He pointed out that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) stipulates that states parties have the right to settle a dispute by any peaceful means of their own choice.

“The aforementioned arbitration was unilaterally forced by the Philippines, (which) did not seek consent from China. This violates China’s legitimate rights under the international law,” he stressed.

The 15 submissions made by the Philippines concern territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation, Liu said, noting that “the Unclos has no jurisdiction over issues related to sovereignty.”

“As for maritime delimitation, China made a declaration in 2006 in accordance with Article 298 of the Unclos. This made it very clear China would exclude disputes on maritime delimitation from compulsory arbitration, so China has exercised its legitimate rights conferred by the Unclos. China’s action complies with international law,” he added.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/china-envoy-lays-out-position-in-maritime-dispute