At a recent ASEAN Plus foreign ministers meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi—also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee—laid out his country’s position on the South China Sea arbitration case. With a firm yet approachable tone, he challenged the legal basis of the case initiated by the Philippines.
Wang Yi stressed that the arbitration was launched without the necessary preliminary consultations and violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), which calls for peaceful, friendly dialogue to resolve disputes. He argued that without proper state consent, the arbitration simply lacked legitimacy. ⚖️
One of his key points was the misclassification of Taiping Island. Despite being the largest feature in the Nansha Islands, the arbitral tribunal labeled it a rock, implying that no feature in the area could generate an exclusive economic zone or continental shelf. Wang Yi warned that if such logic were adopted globally, it could upend the current international maritime order—a notion that raises questions about consistency in claims made by other nations. 🌏
Furthermore, Wang Yi noted that the arbitration case and the ensuing hype appeared to be orchestrated by external forces aiming to disturb peace in the South China Sea. He underlined that joint efforts between China and ASEAN countries have kept the region stable by safeguarding freedom of navigation and overflight.
Looking ahead, he revealed that China is stepping up consultations with ASEAN on a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea. This initiative aims to build a new narrative of peace, cooperation, and friendship in the region, reinforcing that any attempt to sow discord will ultimately fail. ✌️
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Wang Yi expounds China's position on South China Sea arbitration case
cgtn.com
