Beijing, October 16, 2023 – The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday urged the Philippines to halt provocations and stop misleading the international community regarding the South China Sea dispute.
The statement came after Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos asserted on Sunday that Manila would continue to exercise its freedoms and rights in accordance with international law to safeguard national interests.
Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, responded at a regular press briefing, emphasizing that if the Philippines is committed to acting per international law, it should first comply with treaties that define its territorial scope. These include the 1898 Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
“The Philippines should abide by international agreements and refrain from actions that escalate tensions,” Mao Ning stated.
The longstanding dispute centers around a warship that the Philippines grounded on Ren’ai Jiao of China’s Nansha Qundao in 1999. Despite objections from China, the Philippines has attempted to resupply the vessel, leading to increased friction between the two nations.
China maintains that over the past 25 years, the Philippines has not fulfilled its promise to remove the warship. Instead, there have been attempts to reinforce the vessel, potentially establishing permanent structures on Ren’ai Jiao.
On June 3, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated that the territorial boundaries of the Philippines are defined by international treaties. According to China, Nansha Qundao and Huangyan Dao lie beyond the limits established by agreements such as the 1898 treaty, the 1900 Treaty between the United States and Spain for the Cession of Outlying Islands of the Philippines, and the 1930 Convention between the United Kingdom and the United States regarding boundaries in the region.
China urges the Philippines to honor these historical treaties and work towards maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.
Reference(s):
Philippines urged to stop misleading intl community on South China Sea
cgtn.com
