Chinese Ambassador Reaffirms Peaceful Stance on South China Sea
Take me away, mom Animals on the Road	“Water Margin” on eggs Cat the occupier Adorable animals pose like stars Cuddle up together, battling against blizzard Sunshine in the life

 

Recent statements and military deployment by the US may risk escalating tension in the South China Sea.

Chinese ambassador Cui Tiankai addresses some of the misperceptions about China’s policy and intentions in the area in his editorial titled: “How to Bridge the Divide over the South China Sea.”

In his article published by Bloomberg on Wednesday June 1st, the ambassador regrets the misperception that China’s policy on the South China Sea constitutes a strategic move to challenge U.S. dominance in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

Instead he argues that China is doing nothing more than “maintaining and defending legitimate territorial claims and maritime rights” and that many of the facilities being constructed on islands and reefs are for civilian purposes and public good.

Therefore he is hopeful that China and the US will continue managing their difference in a constructive manner, despite the ironic attempt on the part of the US to push China into terms with a pending ruling by the United National Convention on the Law of the Sea, which the US itself has refused to ratify.

Concerning the international arbitration initiated by the Philippines, the ambassador expounds China’s view that the subject of the arbitration is territorial sovereignty and this falls outside the jurisdiction of the Convention.

For that reason, China will neither participate nor accept the arbitration but “call for peaceful and direct negotiations directly with relevant claimant states to manage and eventually resolve the South China Sea disputes.”

Author： 　　　Source：CRI　　　 Editor：Yang Fan