China News Service, Beijing, March 5 (Reporter Li Jingze and Guo Chaokai) Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning hosted a regular press conference on March 5.
A reporter asked: Recently, the Philippine Senate passed the "Marine Areas Bill." What is China's comment on this?
Mao Ning: China has noticed relevant trends.
The so-called "Marine Area Bill" passed by the Philippine Senate attempts to solidify the illegal award of the South China Sea arbitration case in the form of domestic legislation, illegally incorporates most of the islands and reefs of China's Scarborough Shoal and Nansha Islands and related waters into its maritime area, and seriously infringes on China's territory in the South China Sea. Sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
China firmly opposes this and has lodged stern representations with the Philippines.
I would like to reiterate China’s position as follows:
1. China has sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters, and the Zhongsha Islands and their adjacent waters, including Scarborough Shoal, and has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters.
China's above-mentioned territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests were formed and established in a long-term historical process, have sufficient historical and legal basis, and are in compliance with the United Nations Charter and international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
2. The territorial scope of the Philippines is determined by a series of international treaties and has never included any islands and reefs in China's Scarborough Shoal and Nansha Islands.
The Philippines illegally occupied Mahuan Island, Feixin Island, Zhongye Island, Nanyao Island, Beizi Island, Xiyue Island, Shuanghuang Shazhou and Commander Reef in China's Nansha Islands, seriously violating international law including the Charter of the United Nations.
The Philippines' unauthorized establishment of the so-called "Kalayaan Island Group" beyond its own territorial limits and infringement of China's territorial sovereignty is illegal and invalid.
3. The Philippines unilaterally initiated international arbitration without the consent of the Chinese government, violating international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The arbitral tribunal in the South China Sea arbitration case overstepped its jurisdiction and made a ruling in violation of the law. The award it made is illegal and invalid.
China does not accept or participate in the South China Sea arbitration case, nor does it accept or recognize the award, nor does it accept any claims or actions based on the award.
China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea will not be affected by this ruling under any circumstances.
4. Territorial sovereignty is the premise and basis for the creation of maritime rights and interests.
In the name of implementing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Philippines is promoting the so-called "Marine Areas Act" legislation in an attempt to give its illegal claims and actions in the South China Sea a legal appearance.
Such a "bill" seriously violates the provisions of international law such as the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and seriously violates the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. It is an out-and-out evil law and will inevitably complicate the situation in the South China Sea. .
5. China urges the Philippines to earnestly respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, immediately stop taking any unilateral actions that may aggravate disputes and complicate the situation, return to the right track of properly resolving differences through negotiation as soon as possible, and work with China to safeguard the The overall situation of bilateral relations and peace and stability in the South China Sea.
(over)