Q: On 1 September, the EEAS Spokesperson issued a statement, condemning the dangerous actions by Chinese Coast Guard vessels against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. The statement claimed that these actions endanger the safety of life at sea, and violate the right to freedom of navigation and overflight to which all nations are entitled under international law. It also stated the need to respect international norms such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as the Arbitration Award of 2016, and the EU also supported its partners seeking to exercise their legitimate rights. What is China’s comment?

A: Xianbin Jiao is part of China’s Nansha Qundao and inherent Chinese territory. The Philippine Coast Guard vessels entered the lagoon of China’s Xianbin Jiao and have been there illegal for a long time, unilaterally altering its uninhabited status without facilities. China has protested to the Philippines multiple times through diplomatic channels and asked the Philippines to withdraw its vessels immediately. However, the Philippine side has ignored these demands and instead intensified its actions by sending Coast Guard vessels to continue provocation in the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao and even acting dangerously to deliberately ramming the Chinese Coast Guard vessel that was carrying out law enforcement operation. These facts are crystal clear. The China Coast Guard Spokesperson also made comments immediately after the incident. The maneuvers by the Chinese side at the scene were justified, lawful, professional and indisputable. The responsibility of causing the collision fully lies with the Philippines.

The European Union is not a party to the South China Sea issue and has no right to point fingers on this issue. In disregard of facts to confuse right and wrong, the EU side is openly backing the Philippines’ provocative actions that infringe on China’s territorial sovereignty. This leads people to question the EU’s motive by adding fuel to the fire and favoring one side of the issue. The South China Sea is the safest and freest maritime area in the world where freedom of navigation has never been an issue. The South China Sea arbitration case is a politically manipulated farce. The so-called ruling itself severely violates international law, especially the UNCLOS. The EU keeps playing up the issue of freedom of navigation and the South China Sea arbitration case. This not only goes against the shared desire of regional countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, but also does no good to the EU’s own interests and its international credibility.

The Chinese side strongly deplores, firmly opposes and rejects the EU’s accusations. We urge the EU side to face up to the facts, maintain objectivity and fairness, exercise caution in words and deeds on the South China Sea issue, and earnestly respect China’s rights and interests as well as the efforts of regional countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. China will continue to take resolute measures in accordance with the law to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and to uphold the seriousness of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.