By Gao Yinan
Editor’s notes:
In responding to an editorial of New York Times, The South China Sea, in Court, ZhuHaiquan, Press Counselor and Spokesman of Chinese Embassy in the U.S.A. publishes thefollowing letter on New York Times on July 28 to clarify China’s position and approachtoward solving the South China Sea issue.
LETTER
China-Philippines Dispute Over South China Sea
JULY 28, 2015
To the Editor:
Your July 17 editorial "The South China Sea, in Court," about the arbitration case raised bythe Philippines over rights to the South China Sea, is not fair.
China, a latecomer to land reclamation, has been exercising utmost restraint. But thestatus quo has long been broken by the Philippines and some other claimants, which builtfacilities, including military ones, on the reefs owned by China.
China calls on relevant parties to shelve their differences and engage in joint developmentin the South China Sea. Actually in 2005, China, the Philippines and Vietnam conductedjoint marine seismic survey in some areas of the sea. It would have set a good precedent ifthe Philippine government had not changed its mind.
China’s approach toward solving the South China Sea issue is to have direct dialogue andnegotiation between claimants, which is more effective and sustainable. China and thePhilippines had tried such talks before, but the Philippine side unilaterally stopped themin 2012. Our door remains open, and we are engaged with the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations in establishing a code of conduct to ensure peace and stability in the SouthChina Sea until the disputes are settled.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea gives no country the legal right toextend its exclusive economic zone to other country’s territories. We do not believe thatthe arbitration court has jurisdiction, and as a member of United Nations Convention onthe Law of the Sea, China is entitled to exclude any third-party compulsory settlement.
ZHU HAIQUAN
Press Counselor and Spokesman
Chinese Embassy
Washington
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