China’s determination to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights unwavering: People’s Daily

On July 12, 2016, the arbitration court in The Hague handed down an award that seriously damages China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights. The People's Daily published a commentary that states “we do not claim an inch of land that does not belong to us, but we won’t give up anything that is ours.” China will take all necessary measures to protect the inviolability of the territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

The following is the full text of the article:

On July 12, 2016, the arbitration court in The Hague issued an award over the dispute in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines in favor of the latter’s claims. The award disregarded the basic facts, trampled on international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and damaged China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. The Chinese government and people are firmly opposed to it and will not recognize it in whatever manner.

Chinese people have lived and worked from generation to generation in the South China Sea. They had long ago become the owners of the South China Sea islands. Chinese governments throughout history have exercised continuing jurisdiction over the South China Sea islands and established indisputable sovereignty by military cruise, production, commerce and disaster rescue efforts. In the past last hundred years, although the South China Sea islands briefly suffered aggression and fell victim to invaders, China’s determination to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests has never wavered. To this end, the heroic Chinese people fought and paid the ultimate sacrifice. Throughout history, China has adhered to the principle that “we don’t bully the weak when we are strong, and we don’t victimize the poor when we are rich.” We do not claim an inch of land that does not belong to us, but we won’t give up any patch that is ours. China will take all necessary measures to protect the inviolability of the territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. Any attempt to encroach on China’s territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests will prove to be wishful thinking in the end.

The Chinese nation is a peace-loving people, with blood flowing in our veins that yearns for peace. As the biggest country around the South China Sea, China always prioritizes peace and stability and has shown maximum restraint. China has never provoked any controversy or complicated the situation to magnify disputes. China has always insisted on maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, adhering to the peaceful settlement of disputes through negotiations and consultations, managing differences and disputes through regulations, and upholding freedom of navigation and overflight of the South China Sea through cooperation that aims to achieve mutual benefit and a win-win situation. Under the joint efforts of all parties, the shadow of the Cold War disappeared in the South China Sea. Peace and stability have been maintained in the region for a long time, and countries are on the road to peace and prosperity. Freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea has also been fully guaranteed.

However, through manipulation and instigation from outside forces, Benigno Aquino III of the Philippine government and the tribunal disregarded the basic fact that deviates from the basic law, which, in the name of the rule of law, hijacked public institutions to promote selfish interests. These forces have attempted to misinterpret the scope of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to deny China’s sovereignty over the South China Sea. China, of course, will not accept such downright political provocations, and this is necessary to defend China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and maintain the dignity of international law. Many countries in the international community and organizations, as well as a number of people have expressed support for China’s position. Scholars of international law have expressed concern over the abuse of the arbitration procedure and believe the arbitration case has hurt the credibility of the settlement mechanisms of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The case, in their opinion, has violated the convention and disrupted the international order of the sea, and poses a threat to the existing international order. Benigno Aquino III undermined the international rule of law and damaged China’s interests to satisfy his personal desires. The arbitral tribunal acts as a lackey of some outside forces. They will be remembered as a laughing stock in human history.

Whether past, present or future, any attempt to challenge the Chinese line can only be like shooting oneself in the foot. The firm commitment of the Chinese people can’t be wavered to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.