China 'not optimistic' over Huangyan Island
Source: Xinhua |
May 9, 2012, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA'S Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying says China is not optimistic about the situation concerning Huangyan Island, and the country is fully prepared to respond to anything the Philippine side does to escalate the situation.
Yesterday, the Foreign Ministry said it had summoned a top Philippine diplomat in Beijing to make a serious representation over the Huangyan incident for the third time in recent weeks.
Fu told Charge D'affaires Alex Chua of the Philippine Embassy in China on Monday that the Philippines was escalating tensions and making it more difficult to reach a negotiated settlement to the standoff.
The incident began when the Philippine Navy spotted some Chinese fishing boats seeking refuge from bad weather in a lagoon on April 8. The Philippines sent its largest warship Gregorio del Pilar to block the entrance of the lagoon two days later. Two Chinese ships near the area rushed to the scene to protect the fishermen.
China urged the Philippine side to withdraw its vessels from the area around Huangyan Island in the South China Sea, and to never again impede the operations of Chinese fishing vessels or Chinese government vessels performing their duties.
Fu said she had asked the Philippine side to remain calm and refrain from taking actions that would escalate or complicate the situation.
"However, it is obvious that the Philippine side has not realized that it is making serious mistakes and, instead, is stepping up efforts to escalate tensions," Fu said.
"The Chinese side has also made all preparations to respond to any escalation of the situation by the Philippine side," she said.
The Philippines continued to send government vessels to the Huangyan lagoon, and has repeatedly made erroneous remarks which have misled the Philippine public and the international community and provoked public feelings, thus severely damaging bilateral relations, Fu said.
Because of the continuous provocation, China's government vessels will continue to be on alert in the sea area around Huangyan Island, she said.
In order to provide a positive environment for Chinese fishermen to operate in their traditional fishing area, China's fishery administration vessels will also provide fishing vessels with services and management.
"This issue was unilaterally triggered by the Philippines," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said yesterday.
Hong urged the Philippines to return to the path of resolving the issue diplomatically.
"No matter what the Philippines says or does, the fact that Huangyan Island belongs to China will never change."
Yesterday, the Foreign Ministry said it had summoned a top Philippine diplomat in Beijing to make a serious representation over the Huangyan incident for the third time in recent weeks.
Fu told Charge D'affaires Alex Chua of the Philippine Embassy in China on Monday that the Philippines was escalating tensions and making it more difficult to reach a negotiated settlement to the standoff.
The incident began when the Philippine Navy spotted some Chinese fishing boats seeking refuge from bad weather in a lagoon on April 8. The Philippines sent its largest warship Gregorio del Pilar to block the entrance of the lagoon two days later. Two Chinese ships near the area rushed to the scene to protect the fishermen.
China urged the Philippine side to withdraw its vessels from the area around Huangyan Island in the South China Sea, and to never again impede the operations of Chinese fishing vessels or Chinese government vessels performing their duties.
Fu said she had asked the Philippine side to remain calm and refrain from taking actions that would escalate or complicate the situation.
"However, it is obvious that the Philippine side has not realized that it is making serious mistakes and, instead, is stepping up efforts to escalate tensions," Fu said.
"The Chinese side has also made all preparations to respond to any escalation of the situation by the Philippine side," she said.
The Philippines continued to send government vessels to the Huangyan lagoon, and has repeatedly made erroneous remarks which have misled the Philippine public and the international community and provoked public feelings, thus severely damaging bilateral relations, Fu said.
Because of the continuous provocation, China's government vessels will continue to be on alert in the sea area around Huangyan Island, she said.
In order to provide a positive environment for Chinese fishermen to operate in their traditional fishing area, China's fishery administration vessels will also provide fishing vessels with services and management.
"This issue was unilaterally triggered by the Philippines," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said yesterday.
Hong urged the Philippines to return to the path of resolving the issue diplomatically.
"No matter what the Philippines says or does, the fact that Huangyan Island belongs to China will never change."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
