A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Friday rebutted unwarranted accusations by the Philippines over China's land-filling activities in the South China Sea.
"The Meeting of States Parties to UNCLOS is not the venue to discuss the South China Sea issue. Nonetheless, one country just now made unwarranted accusations against China in its statement. I can not but respond," China's deputy permanent representative to the UN Wang Min said.
Wang was responding to Philippine accusations at the 25th Meeting of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which was held at the UN headquarters in New York from Monday to Friday.
"China's construction activities on her islands and reefs are conducted in the Chinese territory, falling entirely within the scope of China's sovereignty. It is legal, justified and reasonable," he said.
These activities will not undermine other countries' lawful right to the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, but will facilitate their joint response to challenges on the sea and provide more guarantee for navigation safety, Wang added.
"That country" talked at length about the South China Sea issue at this meeting with a clear purpose to deceive the international community and pressure China into making compromises and concessions on issues concerning its sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.
"Let me make this very clear to that country here: its calculations are totally wrong. China's will to safeguard her sovereignty and territorial integrity is rock firm. No matter what and how much they say at this meeting or any UN venues, they will never get their way," he said.
China will neither accept nor participate in the arbitration unilaterally initiated by that country, Wang said. "China urges that country to correct its erroneous actions and return to the right track of resolving the disputes through bilateral negotiations as soon as possible."
Wang also reaffirmed the "dual track" approach on the South China Sea issue, which calls for solving disputes through dialogue and consultation between parties directly concerned, and asks China and ASEAN countries to work together to maintain peace and stability.
UNCLOS is an international agreement that defines the rights and responsibilities of nations with respect to their use of the world's oceans, and establishes guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources.
