BEIJING: China urges the United States to promptly stop sowing discord, creating trouble and instigating antagonism in the South China Sea to allow restoration of peace and stability in the region, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.
According to media reports, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently said in a statement that the U.S. stands with its Philippine ally in rejecting China’s plans to establish a national nature reserve on Huangyan Dao.
“We lodged serious protests today regarding the erroneous remarks made by the U.S. side,” spokesperson Lin Jian told a daily news briefing when asked for comment.
“Huangyan Dao is an inherent territory of China,” said Lin, while adding that the establishment of the Huangyan Dao national nature reserve is a matter within the scope of China’s sovereignty—which means it is reasonable, lawful and beyond criticism.
Currently, with the joint efforts of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, the situation in the South China Sea remains generally stable, Lin noted.
The U.S. has repeatedly made unwarranted remarks and chosen to interfere in the South China Sea issue, involving itself in maritime disputes among the parties concerned, he said.
“By courting certain countries to create conflicts and escalate tensions, the United States has disrupted the otherwise peaceful state of the South China Sea,” Lin added.
Highlighting that the so-called South China Sea arbitration is a political farce orchestrated entirely by the U.S. under the guise of legal proceedings, Lin said the so-called ruling is illegal and invalid, carries no binding force – and is neither accepted nor recognized by China.
“It is quite clear who upholds international rule of law as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea, and who is the destroyer and troublemaker,” Lin pointed out.
China will continue to work with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, actively advance consultations on the code of conduct in the South China Sea, and jointly make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation, Lin concluded.
Key takeaways from Chinese team’s press briefing following economic, trade talks with U.S.
The Chinese and U.S. delegations held candid, in-depth, and constructive talks on economic and trade issues of mutual concern, including TikTok, a senior Chinese official said on Monday in Madrid, Spain.
Li Chenggang, China’s international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and vice minister of commerce, said at a briefing that both sides fully recognize the importance of a stable China-U.S. economic and trade relationship for both countries and its major impact on global economic stability and development.
Regarding the TikTok issue, China has consistently opposed the politicization, instrumentalization and weaponization of technology and economic-trade matters and will never seek to reach any agreement that compromises principles, company interests, or international fairness and justice, Li said.
Li said that China will firmly protect its national interests and the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and will carry out technology export approvals in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
He said that China will never try to reach any agreement at the cost of principles, the interests of companies, or international fairness and justice.
Li said China and the U.S. will fully utilize the bilateral economic and trade consultation mechanism to build consensus, reduce misunderstandings, and bring more stability to bilateral relations and the global economy.
