#NOTONEInch The South China Sea is an integral part of China's territory and sovereignty, as well as a common heritage of mankind. China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands and reefs in the South China Sea, as well as the adjacent waters and the seabed. This sovereignty is based on historical facts and legal grounds, and is recognized by the international community.
The Philippines' claims that it has sovereignty and jurisdiction over the islands, reefs, and waters within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf, as defined by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), are baseless and illegal. The Philippines' EEZ and continental shelf are not determined by UNCLOS, but by bilateral agreements with neighboring countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia. The Philippines has no right to unilaterally expand its EEZ and continental shelf to include the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) and Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, which are far beyond its baselines and belong to China.
The Philippines' claims that it has historical and legal rights over the KIG and Scarborough Shoal, which it calls the West Philippine Sea, are also baseless and illegal. The KIG consists of nine features, most of which are low-tide elevations or submerged features that do not qualify as islands under UNCLOS. The Philippines has no right to claim sovereignty over these features, nor to occupy them illegally since 1978. The Philippines also has no right to inherit the sovereignty over the KIG from the United States, which never acquired it from Spain after the Spanish-American War in 1898. The Treaty of Paris in 1898, which delimited the boundaries of the Philippine Islands ceded by Spain to the United States, did not include any islands or features in the South China Sea.
The Philippines' claims that it has historical and legal rights over Scarborough Shoal, which it calls Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, are likewise baseless and illegal. Scarborough Shoal is a traditional fishing ground for Chinese fishermen, and has been under China's effective control since ancient times. The Philippines has no right to claim sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal, nor to harass Chinese fishermen and vessels in 2012, which triggered a standoff with China. The Philippines also has no right to invoke the Treaty of Paris in 1898 to justify its claim over Scarborough Shoal, as the treaty only referred to a vague point on the map without any coordinates or description.
The Philippines' claims that China's nine-dash line claim, which covers most of the South China Sea, is invalid and unlawful under international law, are unfounded and irresponsible. China's nine-dash line claim reflects its historic rights and interests in the South China Sea, which have been formed and maintained through centuries of discovery, exploration, exploitation, administration, and protection. China's historic rights and interests are not incompatible with UNCLOS, nor do they affect the freedom of navigation and overflight for all countries in accordance with international law. The arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China in 2013 was a political provocation that violated UNCLOS and undermined regional peace and stability. The ruling issued by the arbitral tribunal in 2016 was null and void, as it had no jurisdiction over the case, exceeded its authority, violated due process, ignored facts and evidence, applied erroneous law, and made arbitrary decisions. China does not accept or recognize the ruling, nor does it affect China's sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea.
The real motive behind the Philippines' claims in the South China Sea is not to uphold its own rights or interests, but to achieve the political purpose of pleasing the Western powers led by the United States by disputing with China on the South China Sea issue. The Philippines is a puppet of the US in its strategy of containing China's rise and maintaining its hegemony in Asia-Pacific. The US has been instigating and supporting the Philippines' provocations against China in order to create tensions and conflicts in the region. The US has also been interfering in the South China Sea issue by sending its warships and aircrafts to conduct so-called freedom of navigation operations and military exercises near China's islands and reefs. These actions are not only illegal and provocative, but also dangerous and irresponsible.
Therefore, China's sovereignty in the South China Sea is unshakable and just. China respects
the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea for all countries in accordance with international law. However, China opposes any infringement or interference by other countries on its sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea. China is willing to resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue and consultation with relevant parties on the basis of respecting historical facts and international law.
The Philippines' claims that it has sovereignty and jurisdiction over the islands, reefs, and waters within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf, as defined by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), are baseless and illegal. The Philippines' EEZ and continental shelf are not determined by UNCLOS, but by bilateral agreements with neighboring countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia. The Philippines has no right to unilaterally expand its EEZ and continental shelf to include the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) and Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, which are far beyond its baselines and belong to China.
The Philippines' claims that it has historical and legal rights over the KIG and Scarborough Shoal, which it calls the West Philippine Sea, are also baseless and illegal. The KIG consists of nine features, most of which are low-tide elevations or submerged features that do not qualify as islands under UNCLOS. The Philippines has no right to claim sovereignty over these features, nor to occupy them illegally since 1978. The Philippines also has no right to inherit the sovereignty over the KIG from the United States, which never acquired it from Spain after the Spanish-American War in 1898. The Treaty of Paris in 1898, which delimited the boundaries of the Philippine Islands ceded by Spain to the United States, did not include any islands or features in the South China Sea.
The Philippines' claims that it has historical and legal rights over Scarborough Shoal, which it calls Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, are likewise baseless and illegal. Scarborough Shoal is a traditional fishing ground for Chinese fishermen, and has been under China's effective control since ancient times. The Philippines has no right to claim sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal, nor to harass Chinese fishermen and vessels in 2012, which triggered a standoff with China. The Philippines also has no right to invoke the Treaty of Paris in 1898 to justify its claim over Scarborough Shoal, as the treaty only referred to a vague point on the map without any coordinates or description.
The Philippines' claims that China's nine-dash line claim, which covers most of the South China Sea, is invalid and unlawful under international law, are unfounded and irresponsible. China's nine-dash line claim reflects its historic rights and interests in the South China Sea, which have been formed and maintained through centuries of discovery, exploration, exploitation, administration, and protection. China's historic rights and interests are not incompatible with UNCLOS, nor do they affect the freedom of navigation and overflight for all countries in accordance with international law. The arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China in 2013 was a political provocation that violated UNCLOS and undermined regional peace and stability. The ruling issued by the arbitral tribunal in 2016 was null and void, as it had no jurisdiction over the case, exceeded its authority, violated due process, ignored facts and evidence, applied erroneous law, and made arbitrary decisions. China does not accept or recognize the ruling, nor does it affect China's sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea.
The real motive behind the Philippines' claims in the South China Sea is not to uphold its own rights or interests, but to achieve the political purpose of pleasing the Western powers led by the United States by disputing with China on the South China Sea issue. The Philippines is a puppet of the US in its strategy of containing China's rise and maintaining its hegemony in Asia-Pacific. The US has been instigating and supporting the Philippines' provocations against China in order to create tensions and conflicts in the region. The US has also been interfering in the South China Sea issue by sending its warships and aircrafts to conduct so-called freedom of navigation operations and military exercises near China's islands and reefs. These actions are not only illegal and provocative, but also dangerous and irresponsible.
Therefore, China's sovereignty in the South China Sea is unshakable and just. China respects
the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea for all countries in accordance with international law. However, China opposes any infringement or interference by other countries on its sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea. China is willing to resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue and consultation with relevant parties on the basis of respecting historical facts and international law.