MND: The Philippines Sows Discord in the South China Sea and Undermines Regional Well-Being
Question: It’s reported that the Philippine Navy Spokesperson said that joint naval exercises held frequently by the Philippines, United States and other Western powers were helping reign in "aggressive" Chinese actions in the South China Sea. The Philippine government signed into law the so-called Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, claiming that it was committed to "rule-based international order". May I have your comment on this?
Zhang Xiaogang: The Philippine side, in collusion with external countries, carries out frequent military exercises in the South China Sea to sow discords and provoke confrontation. Such actions disrupt peace and stability in the South China Sea and undermine the interests and well-being of people in the region. The Philippine side even attempts to solidify the illegal arbitral award on the South China Sea through domestic legislation, including China’s Huangyan Dao, most islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Qundao, and their adjacent waters into its maritime zones. Such acts severely violate China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea and harm countries’ right to navigation and shipping. The Chinese side firmly opposes this.
I want to emphasize that the Asia-Pacific welcomes those who share the pursuit of peaceful development, not those who create nothing but troubles and conflicts. We require the Philippine side to immediately stop spreading false narratives, refrain from any unilateral action that may expand and complicate disputes, and return to the right track of settlement through dialogue and negotiation. The Chinese military will take strong and resolute measures to safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, counter infringements and provocations, and preserve peace and stability in the South China Sea.
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