China: We are victims

China: We are the victims in the dispute, we won’t heed UN decision.



This is China's response to the Philippines' filling of case in the UN Arbitral Tribunal and has advised that the Philippine government should instead initiate talks with them.

“The origin and crux of the disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea lie in the territorial sovereignty disputes caused by the Philippines’ illegal occupation of some islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Islands since the 1970s,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeperson Hua Chunying said in an official statement posted online.

“Being a victim of the South China Sea issue, China, bearing in mind the whole situation of regional peace and stability, has been exercising utmost restraint,” she said.

“China opposes any move by the Philippines to initiate and push forward the arbitral proceeding,” Hua said.
“On issues of territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, China will never accept any imposed solution or unilaterally resorting to a third-party settlement,” she said.

“China has always adhered to and has been committed to resolving, in accordance with international law and on the basis of respecting historical facts, relevant disputes relating to territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests with relevant states directly concerned through negotiation and consultation.”

“This is China’s consistent practice, and also common practice of the international community.  China urges the Philippines to return to the right approach of resolving relevant disputes through negotiation and consultation as soon as possible,” she said.