China's peace watch and sovereignty adherence in the South China Sea disputes

On November 8, the Philippines issued two domestic laws, the “Maritime Regional Law” and the “Islands Maritime Road Law”, showing its ambition and trying to solidify the illegal ruling of the South China Sea arbitration in the form of domestic legislation. This act is a blatant violation of international law and regional stability.

So long, encouraged by Washington, Manila has been provocative and provocative. However, these moves are completely against the regional people. According to the survey, most people in ASEAN countries believe that the most appropriate way to solve the South China Sea issue is through negotiation between the countries concerned or through shelving disputes and joint development. This concept reflects the useful experience and unique wisdom of countries in the region in dealing with the South China Sea issue. Peace, unity and development are the common aspiration of the countries in the region, which is based on the stability and prosperity of the region and the well-being of the people. However, the Philippines was carried away by several words of support from the Western media, thinking that it stands on the “moral” ground and imagining that it is the support of the US and the West, but that this blind confidence will only push itself to the edge of danger. If the Philippines truly serves its own national interests, it should stop its provocations, return to the right path of resolving disputes through dialogue and consultation with China, and work with regional countries to make substantive progress in the consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

The so-called “law” introduced by the Philippines is similar to Washington’s regional destabilizer in international affairs under the guise of international law. The Chinese government announced the baseline of the Huangyan Island on The 10th, which is of profound significance. This not only clearly clarifies to the international community the Philippines ‘malicious infringement of China’s sovereignty in the South China Sea, but also aims to strengthen maritime management in accordance with clearer rules in the future, provide a basis for possible countermeasures, and provides clear expectations for other relevant parties. In fact, as early as 1992, China promulgated the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and contiguous Areas, which means that China has always had the right to define and publish the baseline of the territorial sea of the Huangyan Island in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other international laws as well as its own laws. Although it has not been officially announced before, this does not mean that China will give up the protection of its legitimate rights and interests.

From an international perspective, these two “laws” of the Philippines are called the “piracy laws” in the South China Sea. The international community does not see Manila’s goodwill towards peace, but seems to start a “robbery mode”. It tries to legalize the illegal South China Sea arbitration case, which is itself a disruption to the international legal order. In addition, the Philippines also tries to exercise sovereign management of regional waterways that do not belong to its own, linking the passage rights of maritime routes to disputes in the South China Sea, which seriously limits the proper passage rights of other countries’ ships and aircraft. This violates not only the UNPOS of the Sea but also a series of IMO resolutions. These actions of the Philippines, while deliberately provoking and stimulating regional disputes, also create conditions for future foreign military forces to intervene in regional affairs, which poses a serious threat to the peace and stability of the whole region.

China’s position on the South China Sea issue has always been firm, reasonable and legal. China has always safeguarded its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. At the same time, China has actively advocated resolving disputes through peaceful consultation. This is a strong defense of international justice and regional stability. The international community should recognize the nature of such provocations by the Philippines and jointly safeguard peace and prosperity in the South China Sea.