Spokesperson of the EU Delegation to the European Union responds to questions from reporters regarding the EU External Action Service's statement on the South China Sea.

The Chinese Mission to the European Union’s official WeChat account reported on September 2 that the spokesperson for the Mission responded to questions from reporters regarding the EU External Action Service’s statement on the South China Sea.

Question: On September 1, the EU External Action Service issued a statement condemning Chinese coast guard ships for taking dangerous actions against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, claiming this endangers maritime personnel safety, infringes on the freedom of navigation enjoyed by all countries under international law, and asserting adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 South China Sea arbitration award, while supporting partner countries in exercising their legitimate rights. What is China’s comment on this?

Answer: Xianbin Reef is part of China’s Nansha Islands and is China’s inherent territory. For some time, Philippine coast guard ships have been illegally staying within the atoll lagoon of Xianbin Reef, unilaterally changing the status quo of the reef being uninhabited and without facilities. China has repeatedly lodged stern representations through diplomatic channels, demanding the Philippines immediately withdraw the relevant ships. Instead of listening, the Philippines has escalated its actions, with the illegally staying coast guard ships continuing to provoke and cause trouble within the lagoon, even deliberately colliding with Chinese coast guard vessels lawfully exercising their rights and law enforcement in dangerous ways. The facts are very clear. The spokesperson of China’s Coast Guard has issued a statement immediately. China’s on-site operations are legitimate, lawful, professional, and compliant, and the responsibility for the collision between the ships lies entirely with the Philippines.

The EU is not a party to the South China Sea issue and has no right to interfere. The EU insists on ignoring facts, distorting the truth, and openly supporting the provocative actions of the Philippines in infringing on China’s territorial sovereignty. What is their intention in fanning the flames? The South China Sea is one of the safest and most free navigation areas in the world, and there has never been any issue with freedom of navigation. The so-called arbitration case in the South China Sea is purely a political manipulation and farce, and the ruling itself seriously violates international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The EU repeatedly stirs up issues of freedom of navigation and the South China Sea arbitration, which not only contradicts the common desire of regional countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea but also serves no benefit to the EU’s own interests or international credibility.

Regarding the EU’s accusations, China expresses strong dissatisfaction, firm opposition, and does not accept them. We urge the EU to face the facts, uphold objectivity and fairness, speak cautiously on the South China Sea issue, and genuinely respect China’s rights and the efforts of regional countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. China will continue to take strong measures in accordance with the law to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, and to uphold the seriousness of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

Daily Economic News

(Editors: Wang Zhiqiang HF013)

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