On September 2, 2020, Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui delivered a keynote speech at the "South China Sea from the Perspective of Cooperation" video international seminar.
The seminar was jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the South China Sea Research Institute. Former dignitaries, officials and well-known scholars from Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, and the United Kingdom attended the seminar.
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a written opening speech for the seminar.
Luo Zhaohui said in his speech that we have just listened to the inspiring speech of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
He explained China's position on the South China Sea issue and guided us to look at this issue from a positive and constructive perspective.
The new crown pneumonia epidemic is still raging around the world, unilateralism and trade bullying are prevalent, the United States disrupts the South China Sea and contains China, and the world is facing more uncertain and unstable factors.
A series of East Asian Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meetings will be held next week.
The signals sent by countries in the region on the South China Sea issue will undoubtedly cause concern.
Against this background, China would like to reiterate that its position and commitment on the South China Sea issue remain unchanged.
As State Councilor Wang Yi said in his speech, we will continue to work with ASEAN countries to build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.
Luo Zhaohui said that China and ASEAN countries are neighbors that cannot be moved.
This year is the 17th year that China joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and the 18th year that we signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
Next year will usher in the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN.
Currently, ASEAN has become China's largest trading partner.
Despite the spread of the epidemic and the global economic downturn, the total trade volume between China and ASEAN reached US$299 billion in the first half of this year, an increase of 5.6% against the trend.
Last year, personnel exchanges between the two sides exceeded 60 million.
The above facts show that the history of contact between the two parties is a process of deepening interaction and a process of managing disputes in the South China Sea.
The relationship between China and ASEAN is comprehensive.
The South China Sea issue is only a small part.
Of course, if we can properly handle this issue, bilateral relations will be even higher.
On the contrary, the relationship between the two parties will be dusted.
So far, we have done well, and we want to maintain this momentum.
Luo Zhaohui emphasized that, first, China insists on resolving disputes through negotiation and negotiation, and managing differences through dialogue and cooperation.
China was the first to discover, name, develop and utilize and effectively govern the South China Sea Zhudao and related waters.
In 1933, France invaded some islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands, and the Chinese government made solemn representations.
During World War II, Japan illegally invaded and occupied the South China Sea Islands.
After the end of World War II, China recovered the South China Sea islands and announced the South China Sea Discontinuous Line in 1948. No country raised objections for a long time after that.
Only when oil and gas resources were discovered in the South China Sea in the 1970s did relevant countries begin to make territorial claims.
After the "United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea" was promulgated in the 1980s, relevant coastal states in the South China Sea had overlapping claims on maritime areas, further complicating the dispute.
Looking back at history, it is not difficult to find that China’s claims in the South China Sea have sufficient historical and legal basis.
China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea Zhudao and its adjacent waters.
Since the 1980s, China has always advocated "shelving disputes and developing together" and has never forced any country to accept it.
Discussions on this initiative are still ongoing.
There are nearly 1,000 oil wells in the disputed area in the South China Sea, but none of them belong to China.
Although we also need oil and gas, we advocate joint development and do not want to complicate the problem through unilateral development.
China and ASEAN countries are committed to complying with the obligations of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
China proposes to complete the consultation on the "South China Sea Code of Conduct" within three years.
The new crown pneumonia epidemic has delayed the negotiation process of the "Guidelines".
But we are confident to speed up the consultation process in a more efficient manner and with higher quality.
The good news is that tomorrow, an online meeting of the relevant working layers of the "Code" consultation will be held.
China advocates the establishment of a "South China Sea Coastal Countries Cooperation Mechanism" and actively promotes Pan-South China Sea economic cooperation; China is ready to build a blue economic partnership with ASEAN countries; we have reached a consensus on the construction of the Maritime Silk Road; we are advancing the "new land-sea channel" Construction; we can use the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund to benefit more people in the region.
Second, China is a staunch defender and builder of the international rule of law and supports the handling of the South China Sea issue in accordance with international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The Convention is a delicate balance of the positions of the parties on the law of the sea.
It regulates the legal status of various maritime areas, the rights and obligations of various countries, and major maritime activities. It is an important legal document on the modern international maritime order.
As a signatory to the Convention, China has always abide by the Convention and strictly abide by its obligations.
On the other hand, although the "Convention" is extremely important, it is not the entirety of the law of the sea, besides general international law.
The eighth paragraph of the preamble of the "Convention" clearly stated that "for matters not stipulated in this convention, the rules and principles of general international law shall continue to be used as the basis for confirmation of matters not stipulated in this convention."
After the "Convention" entered into force, there are still international cases of applying other international laws to deal with maritime disputes.
In addition, relevant countries and regions have adopted regional rules or arrangements to deal with the problem of overlapping maritime claims, such as the countries along the Mediterranean Sea and the countries along the Caspian Sea.
An objective understanding of the authority and limitations of the "Convention" is the prerequisite for its correct interpretation and application.
The South China Sea issue involves not only the "Convention" but also territorial sovereignty. Only when international law including the "Convention" is fully and accurately applied can it be properly resolved.
The "Declaration" and "Guidelines" should also become the rules that China and ASEAN countries abide by.
Some countries are talking about the legal binding force of the "code".
All this shows that the Convention is not the only legal instrument for the law of the sea.
Third, the South China Sea arbitration case cannot resolve the South China Sea issue. China’s position on the arbitration case is clear and firm, and has sufficient international law.
On major disputes such as territorial sovereignty, China has always advocated settlement through negotiations and consultations and opposed any imposing solutions.
The South China Sea issue involves complicated history, national sentiments and national dignity. Any coercive method will only backfire.
The exercise of jurisdiction by international judicial or arbitration institutions must be based on the consent of the parties concerned.
This is what the principle of national sovereignty should be.
The essence of the "South China Sea Arbitration" arbitration matters is territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation issues.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea does not regulate territorial sovereignty issues.
Regarding maritime delimitation, China has made a statement excluding arbitration jurisdiction.
China and the Philippines have also adopted a series of bilateral documents, as well as the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", etc., and reached consensus on resolving disputes through bilateral negotiations.
The arbitration tribunal ignored the essence of the dispute between China and the Philippines, ignored China’s declarations under the Convention, ignored the consensus reached by the two parties in negotiations, exceeded its authority, and ruled in vain, and there were obvious errors in the determination of facts and the application of law.
China does not accept or participate in arbitration, or accept or recognize the so-called award.
Fourth, the intervention of the United States is the source of risk in the South China Sea. The countries in the region are united and resolutely safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.
The South China Sea is open and inclusive.
China and ASEAN countries have never intended to make the South China Sea their own sphere of influence, nor have they used the South China Sea as a bargaining chip in geopolitical games.
There is no problem with the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. This is just an excuse for troublemakers who want to intervene in the South China Sea issue.
Recently, the United States has frequently been provoking things in the South China Sea.
It not only violated its promise not to choose sides, deny China's legitimate interests and support the arbitration case, but also show off its power, show its muscles, and continue to increase the frequency and intensity of military activities in the South China Sea.
Although the United States is not a member of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, it has grossly interfered in the election of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, using the South China Sea issue as an excuse to encourage the parties to the Convention not to support the Chinese candidate.
The high votes of the Chinese candidates are a resounding response to the unreasonable actions of the United States.
The purpose of the United States' intervention in South China Sea affairs is to kidnap regional countries, wedge and split between China and ASEAN countries, and force ASEAN countries to choose sides.
A turbulent South China Sea will only serve the interests of the United States and global ambitions, while regional countries have to pay for it.
Facts have proved that the United States has become the greatest threat to peace in the South China Sea, and has become a spoiler and stumbling block for the development and prosperity of South China Sea cooperation.
The United States is not only targeting the South China Sea, but also wooing Japan, India, and Australia to form a "four-nation mechanism" (also known as "Little Asian NATO") to engage in an anti-China small circle.
This shows that the United States is still pursuing the "Cold War" mentality.
We do not cause trouble, and we are never afraid of trouble.
We will not dance with the United States, but use calmness and rationality to overcome its impulse and anxiety. While firmly defending our sovereignty, security and development interests, we are willing to work with the United States to promote China-US relations based on coordination, cooperation, and stability. .
If the situation in the region continues to deteriorate, it is impossible for the countries in the region to take care of themselves.
Countries in the region should also maintain a high degree of vigilance, firmly grasp the dominance of South China Sea affairs, and continue to adhere to the "dual track approach" to deal with the South China Sea issue, and must not turn the South China Sea into an international political arena.
Luo Zhaohui finally said that a more peaceful, friendly and cooperative South China Sea is in the common interests of the countries in the region and the people of all countries in the world.
Let us focus on cooperation rather than confrontation and build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.