South China Sea ‘never a problem’
Print Edition
CHINA said yesterday that freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea has never been a problem.
China respects and supports such freedom enjoyed by all countries in accordance with international law, and has made great efforts in safeguarding the freedom with other countries in the region, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a press release.
She made the remarks in response to reports of some worries over the “freedom of navigation and overflight” in the South China Sea expressed during the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, which ended yesterday.
Hua called the so-called problem of the navigation and overflight freedom a “pseudo-proposition” because there has never been a problem.
She said that the real intention of certain countries to hype up the topic is to sow dissension among countries in the region and create an excuse for political and military engagement in the South China Sea issue.
Safeguarding the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea is not only the requirement of international law, but also in line with China’s fundamental interests, she said, adding that China will unswervingly ensure it.
“We hope those certain countries will stop disturbing regional safety and stability in the name of safeguarding the right of the navigation freedom,” Hua said.
China urged the United States and Japan to stop pointing fingers at China on the South China Sea, she said.
“Countries from outside should honor their commitments and not make irresponsible remarks on issues involving territorial sovereignty,” Hua said on Saturday in response to remarks of US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and his Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani at the meeting in Singapore.
They had talked about the South China Sea issue and hurled unreasonable accusations at China, the spokeswoman said.
“They were mostly repeating their old tunes, which have no fact in them and are full of groundless accusations against China’s legitimate construction activities on relevant islands and reefs.” Hua said.
She added that they blamed China for the regional security issue when China is actually the victim and sowed discord between China and other regional countries.
“China is firmly opposed to that and the Chinese delegation attending the meeting has made our position clear,” Hua said.
She said China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and the adjacent waters. China has never acknowledged the so-called “status-quo” formed by other countries’ illegal occupation of Chinese territory, and is not going to do so.
Hua said China always maintains that territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea shall be resolved peacefully between parties directly concerned through negotiation.
- 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.
