JAKARTA - The Chinese government has reiterated its rejection of the statements of the United States, a number of European countries, and other countries regarding the 10th anniversary of the ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal on the South China Sea.
"The joint statement issued by the US, the Philippines, and a number of European countries, as well as the European Union statement, regarding the 10th anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitration Ruling is a form of distortion of facts and an attempt to discredit China. We regret and reject these statements," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian at a press conference in Beijing, Tuesday, July 14, reported by ANTARA.
On Sunday (12/7), a total of 14 countries, namely Australia, Japan, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, the Philippines, Romania, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, issued a joint statement confirming that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
They also emphasized that the decision of the Arbitration Court is final and legally binding for China and the Philippines regarding the rights and maritime claims decided by the Arbitration Court.
The joint statement also said the Arbitration Court ruled that there was no legal basis for China's extensive maritime claims in the South China Sea, including claims based on "historical rights".
"The head of the European Affairs Department at the Chinese Foreign Ministry has lodged a strong protest with the heads of diplomatic representatives of the countries concerned as well as the EU Delegation to China," Lin Jian added.
Lin Jian said China's sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao (South China Sea Islands) and related rights and interests in the South China Sea had been formed through a long historical journey and had a strong legal basis.
According to Lin Jian, China's position on the South China Sea arbitration is very clear, consistent, and firm.
"First of all, the 'Arbitration Panel' is an ad hoc body formed for political agendas so that it has absolutely no authority or impartiality. The arbitration process itself violates the basic principles of international law," he said.
Lin Jian said the process was just a political maneuver by a handful of Western countries aimed at containing China.
"China does not accept or recognize the ruling, and opposes and will never accept any claims or actions based on the ruling," he said.
According to Lin Jian, a number of European countries need to realize that the application of double standards in international law issues will only further erode their credibility on the international stage and will not help deepen mutual trust between China and Europe.
"Europe is not a disputing party in the South China Sea and is not in a position to judge territorial sovereignty or China's legitimate maritime rights and interests in the region. We urge the European Union to act wisely, stop supporting the illegal ruling, and not interfere with China-EU relations," Lin Jian added.
Lin Jian reiterated that the "arbitration" is in essence just a political joke packaged as a legal process.
"A decade ago, the 'Arbitration Panel' had exceeded its authority and abused its jurisdiction. The ruling it produced is illegal, invalid, and null and void. The illegal ruling will not change the history or the fact that China exercises sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over Nanhai Zhudao," he said.
China stated that Nanhai Zhudao (South China Sea Islands) is its territory, which includes Dongsha Qundao (Dongsha Islands), Xisha Qundao (Xisha Islands), Zhongsha Qundao (Zhongsha Islands), and Nansha Qundao (Nansha Islands), also known as the Pratas Islands, Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, and the Macclesfield Bank area.
The archipelago includes various islands, coral reefs, coral reefs, and small coral islands of various sizes. Nansha Qundao is the largest cluster, both in terms of the number of islands and coral reefs and the geographical area.
China stated that its community activities in the South China Sea have been going on for more than 2,000 years, making it the first party to discover, name, explore, and utilize Nanhai Zhudao and related waters.
Since the People's Republic of China (PRC) was established on October 1, 1949, China has repeatedly asserted its sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and related rights and interests in the South China Sea through the issuance of laws and regulations, the establishment of administration, and the delivery of diplomatic statements.
China considers the territorial claims and forced occupation of a number of islands and reefs in the Nansha Qundao by several countries to be invalid and null and void.
China also stressed that it would continue to oppose such actions and demand that the countries concerned stop violating its territory.
The Philippines in 2013 filed a lawsuit against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. In 2016, the court ruled that the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) was the right of the Philippines to exploit natural resources in the area, even though the area overlapped with China's claims.
The ruling also stated that China had violated the sovereign rights of the Philippines and caused severe damage to the coral reef ecosystem.
The court also stated that China's reclamation of islands in the area did not give the Chinese government additional maritime rights.
However, China never accepted the ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal.
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