Manila told of China’s arbitration opposition
Print Edition
CHINA summoned the Philippines ambassador yesterday to lodge a strong complaint over Manila’s seeking international arbitration in a territorial dispute over the South China Sea.
The Philippines filed the case against China on Sunday at an arbitration tribunal in The Hague.
Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin told Philippine Ambassador Erlinda Basilio that China was “extremely dissatisfied and resolutely opposed” to the case, saying China did not accept it and would not take part.
“The Philippines forcing of international arbitration is not conducive towards resolving the Sino-Philippine dispute over the South China Sea,” Liu said.
“The move will not change the fact that China has sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and adjacent waters, nor will it shake the Chinese government’s will and resolution to safeguard territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests,” he added.
The only way to address the issue was through bilateral talks, he said.
On Saturday, the Philippines sent a ship to the Ren’ai Reef in the South China Sea and Liu also lodged representations with the Philippine side over that trip.
He said China would never allow the Philippines to occupy the Ren’ai Reef in any form or to succeed in building facilities there, and urged a halt to all provocation.
The Philippines grounded a warship near the Ren’ai Reef in 1999. In a recent statement, the Philippine side claimed the stranded warship had served as a permanent installation since then.
The Philippines has repeatedly attempted to deliver construction materials to build on the reef.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino, speaking to reporters in Manila, said he was not seeking confrontation.
“We are not here to challenge China, to provoke them into any action, but I do believe that they should recognise we have the right to defend our own interests,” he said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said that by pushing forward international arbitration, the Philippines were attempting to disguise their illegal occupation of Chinese territory.
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