China committed to sea of peace, but not at the cost of sovereignty

Aircraft of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command expelled a Philippine government aircraft that had illegally intruded into the territorial airspace over China’s Huangyan Island on Tuesday in accordance with the law and regulations.

The Philippine aircraft’s intrusion violated both Chinese and international law. China’s response to the Philippines’ law-breaking move was professional and restrained, demonstrating its commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty while avoiding escalation of the situation.

In recent years, acting as a pawn of the United States in the region, Manila has repeatedly staged such provocations around Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea, in the hope of hyping up and exploiting China’s response. But such actions only put the spotlight on Manila’s claim-jumping exploits, which it believes serve its patron’s geopolitical interests.

But the responses the Philippine leader received during his last trip to Washington indicate that the Philippines’ painstaking dirty work on the front is not that well rated.

Such a tendency is also apparent in Manila’s deepening security cooperation with Japan. Certain forces in Japan continue to pursue the accelerated buildup of the country’s military capabilities. It is regrettable that some politicians in Manila appear willing to encourage Tokyo’s militaristic ambitions in a bid to create a bloc-based military layout targeting China. Any move that stokes geopolitical rivalry in the South China Sea runs counter to the shared aspirations of regional countries for peace, development and stability.

China has always maintained that cooperation between countries should not target any third party or undermine regional peace and stability.

As Foreign Minister Wang Yi has emphasized, the South China Sea is one of the most stable seas globally, with freedom of navigation and overflight fully guaranteed. Attempts by countries outside the region to stir up trouble only expose their ulterior motives.

China’s establishment of the Huangyan Island national nature reserve last year is a clear demonstration of its responsible approach to maritime governance. The move is fully consistent with China’s international obligations, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Philippines’ claim over Huangyan Island is groundless. The scope of Philippine territory has long been defined by multiple international treaties, none of which includes Huangyan Island. Establishing a nature reserve is an exercise of China’s sovereign rights. Setting up such nature reserves is a common practice worldwide.

For years, China allowed Philippine fishermen to operate in nearby waters around Huangyan Island out of humanitarian considerations. However, Manila is using its fishermen as tools to advance illegal claims and challenge China’s law enforcement, an approach that not only damages mutual trust but also harms the long-term interests of the Philippine people.

While China and the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are steadily advancing consultations on an effective, substantive and legally sound Code of Conduct for the South China Sea, the so-called “arbitration case” launched by Manila, riddled with serious legal and factual flaws, undermined regional peace and order.

Manila should rationally assess the geopolitical situation, stop infringing upon China’s rights and cease its irresponsible provocations. Returning to dialogue and consultation is the only viable path to properly manage differences. China remains committed to working with regional countries to build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation — but it will never waver in safeguarding its sovereignty and legitimate rights.