China accuses Japan of meddling in the disputed South China Sea
China has lodged a diplomatic protest with Japan on Tuesday over its defence white paper which has criticised Beijing’s aggressive policies in the South and East China seas. The 560page document has devoted 34 pages to “unjustified criticism” of China’s normal defence construction and military activities, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said.
Japan said in the document that “China has tried to change the status quo in the East China Sea and South China Sea based on its own assertions, and this has become a common concern of the region and the world at large.”
Geng accused Japan of meddling in the South China Sea, saying China has lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side. Geng reaffirmed that the will of the Chinese government to safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests is firm. China claims almost all of South China Sea and also laid claims on the Senkaku islands under the control of Japan in East China Sea and resorted to aggressive patrols in the last two years. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the South China Sea. Geng said conducting patrols and lawenforcement activities in sea waters off the Diaoyu (Senkaku) Islands is China’s inherent right and Japan is in no position to point fingers at those activities. The Chinese side claims that it is carrying out normal sea and air activities in accordance with international law, relevant domestic laws and regulations as well as national defence needs, is beyond reproach.
The construction of necessary and appropriate facilities by the Chinese side in some reefs and islands of the Nansha Islands is a legitimate right granted to sovereign states by international law, which has nothing to do with militarisation and does not pose a threat to regional security, Geng clarified. With the concerted efforts of countries in the region, the situation in the South China Sea has stabilised, he said.
China and ASEAN countries are focusing on strengthening cooperation to promote a comprehensive and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and jointly develop regional rules, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. On Sunday, China and ASEAN foreign ministers adopted a framework of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, said Geng, noting that all parties affirmed the positive situation in the South China Sea and highly appreciated the early cooperation results, such as the China-ASEAN senior diplomatic hotline. –PTI