June 4, 2024
MANILA – The Chinese Foreign Ministry lambasted on Monday President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s remarks at the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue, calling it an attempt to “disregard history, designed to amplify the Philippines’ wrongful position on the South China Sea” row.
The unnamed foreign ministry spokesperson’s statement was forwarded to the media on the afternoon of June 3 – days after Marcos delivered his speech explaining the legal basis for the Philippines’ territory and maritime zones.
In his speech, Marcos insisted that Manila’s claims in the South China Sea “are derived not from imagination, but from international law.”
This, however, did not sit well with China, who, in return, baselessly accused Manila of hyping up the maritime situation in the area.
“First, China has indisputable sovereignty over South China Sea Islands (which it called Nanhai Zhudao), and sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters. China is the first to have discovered, named, and explored and utilized South China Sea Islands and relevant waters, and the first to have exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over them continuously, peacefully and effectively,” said the foreign ministry spokesperson.
The unnamed spokesperson likewise argued that China’s supposed territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are “based on solid historical and legal grounds.”
“China’s normal patrol, law enforcement and productive activities in waters under its own jurisdiction are consistent with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and such activities are beyond reproach,” the official added.
Among China’s arguments include its claim that the 2016 arbitral award, which invalidated China’s then-nine dash claim, is illegal, null, and void.
“Without the Chinese government’s prior consent, the Philippines unilaterally initiated an international arbitration, which violated international law, including UNCLOS, and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. The arbitral tribunal in the South China Sea arbitration handled the case ultra vires and made an illegitimate ruling. The rendered award is illegal, null and void,” said the Chinese official.
“China neither accepts nor participates in that arbitration, neither accepts nor recognizes the award, and will never accept any claim or action arising from the award. China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea will not be affected by the award in any way. What the Philippines has been doing to glorify this illegal, invalid arbitral award does not help resolve its maritime disputes with China, still less justify its illegal claims in any way,” the official furthered.
China also blamed the Philippine government, accusing it of “breaching commitments and common understandings with China” by acting in bad faith.
“The Philippines frequently infringed on China’s rights and made provocations at sea, brought in forces outside the region to form blocs and flex muscles in the South China Sea, and spread disinformation to vilify China and mislead the international perception on this matter. In particular, driven by selfish geopolitical calculations, the US has played an extremely ignoble role by supporting and assisting the Philippines in infringing on China’s sovereignty, and by exploiting the South China Sea issue to drive a wedge between China and other regional countries,” said the unnamed spokesperson.
China then proceeded to ask who exactly the Philippine foreign policy serves now.
“The answer is pretty clear to anyone with sound judgment. Trying desperately to justify the unjustifiable will not help the Philippines build trust with the international community. Countries in the region need to stay vigilant and always make sure that they themselves are the ones sitting in the driver’s seat when it comes to the peace and stability of the South China Sea,” the unnamed spokesperson added.
China’s sweeping claim over most of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, has long been dismissed by an arbitral tribunal.
In 2013, the Philippines challenged China’s assertions before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the Netherlands.
In 2016, it ruled overwhelmingly in favor of the Philippines. Despite this ruling, Chinese maritime assets continue to swarm and assert aggression in the territory.