Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Defends China’s South China Sea Stance at ASEAN Meeting
At the ASEAN Plus foreign ministers’ meetings on Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expounded China’s position on the South China Sea arbitration case initiated by the Philippines. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, emphasized that the case lacked the necessary preconditions and did not meet the fundamental principle of state consent, rendering it legally baseless from the start.
Wang Yi highlighted that the Philippines’ unilateral move violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), which stipulates that disputes should be resolved peacefully through friendly consultations by directly concerned parties. He stated that the action contradicted commitments made by the Philippines in bilateral agreements with China and breached the principle of estoppel in international law.
Addressing the essence of the arbitration, Wang Yi pointed out that it concerned China’s territorial sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and maritime delimitation issues. He noted that territorial disputes are beyond the scope of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and China had explicitly excluded maritime delimitation from compulsory arbitration in a declaration made in 2006, in accordance with UNCLOS provisions.
Wang criticized the arbitral tribunal for exceeding its mandate and undermining the rule of law in international maritime affairs. He specifically mentioned that the tribunal’s classification of Taiping Island—the largest feature in the Nansha Islands—as a rock was both factually and legally flawed. According to Wang, this misclassification disregards UNCLOS provisions and could fundamentally alter the existing maritime order if applied globally.
The foreign minister also asserted that the arbitration case and the ensuing publicity were orchestrated by forces outside the region aiming to disrupt peace in the South China Sea for their own interests. He expressed that more countries worldwide are recognizing the true nature of this situation.
Wang Yi reaffirmed China’s commitment to upholding international rule of law and the authority of UNCLOS. He noted that, thanks to joint efforts by China and ASEAN countries, the South China Sea remains stable, with freedom of navigation and overflight effectively protected. China, he said, is accelerating consultations with ASEAN nations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, striving to promote peace, cooperation, and friendship in the region.
“Any attempt to stir up trouble or sow discord will fail,” Wang concluded.
