China News Service, Beijing, September 9th. China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the 10th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the 9th.

In response to the various smears made by the US on China's position on the South China Sea issue, Wang Yi stated three basic facts.

　　First, China has sufficient historical and legal basis for the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the South China Sea Islands.

According to international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the historic rights of all countries should be respected.

China's proposition has been consistent over the years, and it has not changed or will not change.

Without expansion, it is impossible to shrink.

Some people claim that China has claimed all the waters within the discontinuous line as internal waters and territorial waters. This is groundless. It is a deliberate confusion of concepts and a distortion of China's position.

　　Second, China adheres to the neighboring policy of good-neighborliness and friendship, and has always been committed to playing a constructive role in the South China Sea issue.

As early as 2002, China signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" with ASEAN countries, which stipulated that disputes should be settled peacefully through dialogue and consultation between the parties directly involved, and no actions to complicate or amplify the situation should be taken, and no force or threat of force should be used.

China is actively advancing the consultation on the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" and is committed to forming a substantive and effective rule to lay a stronger support for peace in the South China Sea.

China persists in advocating "set aside disputes and develop together", and is willing to pay attention to the energy needs of coastal countries under this framework and seek win-win and multi-win results.

China’s construction of islands and reefs in the past few years was to improve living conditions, provide public goods for the South China Sea, and also out of the need to maintain its own security.

In the face of escalating military pressure from countries outside the region, we certainly have the basic self-protection rights of sovereign states.

　　Third, China has always been committed to complying with international laws including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

China was the main force that contributed to the conclusion of the "Convention" that year. After the "Convention" came into effect, the scope of maritime rights and interests proposed by various countries overlapped. We maintain that each country should reserve its positions and find solutions through diplomatic channels through dialogue and consultation.

Regarding maritime delimitation disputes, the Chinese government has issued a policy statement in 2006 in accordance with the provisions of the Convention that excludes compulsory dispute settlement procedures.

China’s refusal to accept or participate in arbitration without the consent of the parties has a good reason and legal basis.

　　Wang Yi also said that East Asia has always been favored by the world. We are willing to work with countries in the region to make good use of the wisdom of the Easterners, continue to properly handle maritime disputes, firmly eliminate external interference, maintain freedom of navigation in accordance with the law, and actively carry out maritime cooperation to ensure long-term stability in East Asia. Create good conditions.

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