South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines is Nansha Islands/ Spratly Islands.

February 19, 2013 (TSR) – The Chinese government has rejected a Philippine move to take their dispute regarding sovereignty issues in the South China Sea to the United Nations for arbitration, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.

“Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing had an appointment with officials from the Philippines’ Foreign Ministry on Tuesday and returned a note and related notice after expressing China’s rejection,” spokesman Hong Lei said at a daily press briefing.

Last month, Hong also made the same remarks after the Chairman of U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ed Royce, met with Philippine officials. Royce recommended that China should agree to face the Philippines before a U.N. arbitration tribunal to avoid regional turbulence. During the briefing, Hong said he had made clear China’s stance on the Philippines’ demand to go to arbitration.

South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines is Nansha Islands/ Spratly Islands.
South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines is Nansha Islands/ Spratly Islands.

On Jan. 23, Hong also urged the Philippines to avoid taking any action that could complicate the issue after Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said that the Philippines government has taken the South China Sea disputes to an Arbitral Tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“The note and related notice not only violate the consensus enshrined in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), but are also factually flawed and contain false accusations,” Hong said.

China insists that since it signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) with members of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2002, relevant disputes should be solved through friendly talks and negotiations by sovereign states directly concerned.

China has consistently opposed the Philippine illegal occupation of some islets and reefs of the Nansha Islands.

China has always been committed to addressing disputes with the Philippines through bilateral consultations and negotiations so as to safeguard bilateral relations and regional peace and stability, Hong said, adding that it showed China’s utmost goodwill and sincerity.

Hong reiterated that China has indisputable sovereignty, sufficient historical and jurisprudential evidence to support its claim to the Nansha islands, which are located in the South China Sea, and their adjacent waters.

“All countries signing the DOC should adhere to their commitments and that relevant disputes should be solved through negotiations between sovereign states directly involved.”

“China hopes the Philippines will honor its commitment by not taking any action that could complicate the issue, positively respond to China’s proposal to establish a bilateral dialogue mechanism on maritime issues and work to solve the issue through bilateral negotiations,” Hong said.

Xinhua contributed to this article.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here