Beijing firmly opposes US remarks on South China Sea dispute, defends China Coast Guard measures

China News Service: On the incident that happened at Ren’ai Jiao yesterday, the Spokesperson of the US Department of State said that the provocative actions by China demonstrated disregard for the safety of Filipinos and international law. He commented that the US stands with its Philippine allies in the face of these dangerous and unlawful actions. The US called on China to observe the arbitral award on the South China Sea and stop its dangerous and destabilizing actions. The Pentagon Press Secretary said that the dangerous actions by China resulted in injuries to Filipino crew members and demonstrated disregard for international law. What’s your response? Mao Ning: Ren’ai Jiao is part of China’s Nansha Qundao. China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and its adjacent waters, including Ren’ai Jiao. This is established in the long course of history, and complies with international law, including the UN Charter. China Coast Guard took necessary law enforcement measures in accordance with law against the infringement and provocative moves by Philippine vessels at Ren’ai Jiao. The measures are justified, lawful, professional, restrained, and beyond reproach. Who is the trouble-maker making provocation behind this incident? Who breaks international law and endangers the peace and stability in the South China Sea? The fact and truth is crystal clear. The US Department of State who disregards the fact and confuses right with wrong has made baseless attacks against China’s legitimate and lawful actions to safeguard our rights. It has arbitrarily threatened China by resorting to the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty to embolden the Philippines and endorse its acts of infringement and provocation. We firmly oppose it. The so-called arbitral award on the South China Sea arbitration that the Philippines and a handful of countries regard as a benchmark goes against international law including UNCLOS and it is completely illegal, null and void. Ren’ai Jiao is a bilateral issue between China and the Philippines. The US or any third party should not exploit the issue to sow discord, still less make interventions. China has unwavering determination and will in safeguarding its legitimate rights. The Philippines’ attempt of making infringements and provocations will not succeed. China urges the US to refrain from using the Philippines as a pawn to destabilize the South China Sea. The Philippines also needs to refrain from being manipulated by the US. Lessons from history tell us that a pawn will only end up being abandoned.  __________________ ShanghaiEye focuses on producing top-quality contents. Nobody knows SHANGHAI better than us. Please subscribe to us ☻☻☻ __________________ For more stories, please click ■ What’s up today in Shanghai, the most updated news of the city ■ Amazing Shanghai, exploring the unknown corners of the city, learning the people, food and stories behind them ■ What Chinese people’s lives are like during the post COVID-19 period ■ Views of foreign scholars on China and its affairs ■ Foreign faces in Shanghai, people living in this city sharing their true feelings ■ Mini-docs showing why China is the country it is today __________________ ☎Leave us messages if you have any suggestions or questions! Thank you!