The Chinese Government has always stood for
negotiated settlement of international disputes through
peaceful means. In this spirit, China has solved questions
regarding territory and border with some neighboring
countries through bilateral consultations and negotiations
in an equitable, reasonable and amicable manner. This
position also applies to the Nansha Islands. China is
committed to working with the countries concerned for proper
settlement of the disputes related to the South China Sea
through peaceful negotiations in accordance with the
universally-recognized international law and the
contemporary law of the sea, including the fundamental
principles and legal regimes set forth in the 1982 U.N.
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This was
explicitly written into the Joint Statement issued at the
China-ASEAN informal summit in 1997. The Chinese Government
has also put forward the proposition of "shelving
disputes and going in for joint development". China is
ready to shelve the disputes for the time being and conduct
cooperation with the countries concerned pending settlement
of the disputes. This is not only what China stands for but
also what China does. In Recent years, China has on many
occasions had consultations and exchanged views on the
question of the South China Sea with the countries
concerned, and a broad identity of views has been reached.
The bilateral consultation mechanisms between China and the
Philippines, Viet Nam and Malaysia respectively are in
effective operation, and positive progress has been made to
varying degrees in the dialogues. At China-ASEAN Senior
Officials Meetings(SOM) and China-ASEAN Post-Ministerial
Conferences(PMC), too, the two sides have had candid
exchange of views on the South China Sea question, and
agreed to seek and appropriate solution to the problem by
peaceful means and through friendly
consultations.
China maintains that all the
parties concerned should adopt a restrained, calm and
constructive approach on the question of the Nansha Islands.
In recent years, countries like Viet Nam and the Philippines
have sent troops to seize some uninhabited islands and reefs
of the Nansha Islands, destroyed the marks of sovereignty
erected by China there, and arrested, detained or driven
away by force Chinese fishermen fishing in the South China
Sea. On this question, the Chinese side has always persisted
in having discussions and settling relevant problems with
the countries concerned through diplomatic channels and by
peaceful means. It fully testifies to China's sincerity in
preserving regional stability and the overall interests of
bilateral friendly relations.
China attaches
great importance to the safety and unimpededness of the
international water lanes in the South China Sea. Its
efforts to safeguard its sovereignty over the Nansha Islands
and maritime rights and interests do not affect the freedom
of the passage foreign vessels and aircraft enjoy in
accordance with international law. In fact, China has never
interfered with the freedom of passage of foreign vessels
and aircraft in this area, nor will it ever do so in the
future. China is ready to work together with the littoral
states of the South China Sea to safeguard the safety the
international water lanes in the area of the South China
Sea.
The question of the South China Sea is a
question between China and the relevant countries. The
Chinese Government has consistently advocated settlement of
the disputes between China and the countries concerned
through amicable bilateral consultations. Involvement by any
external force is undesirable and will only further
complicate the situation. China and the countries concerned
are fully capable and confident of handling their disputes
appropriately. Peace and tranquility in the South China Sea
area can be maintained on a long-term basis. At present,
there is no crisis at all in that area. The kind of tension
in the South China Sea which has been played up, even with
ulterior motives, is contrary to the facts.