Japan's ulterior motives laid bare: China Daily editorial

A lie repeated a thousand times remains a lie. However, some countries, driven by ulterior motives, seem intent on ignoring this by attempting to breathe life into the so-called South China Sea "arbitral award" of 2016. They are futilely using its 10th anniversary to revive the worthless piece of paper that is illegal, null and void, and has no binding force.

The Philippines' unilateral initiation of arbitration proceedings in 2013 breached the commitment it made under the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to resolve disputes through negotiations. It also contravened the principle of state consent that underpins international dispute settlement mechanisms as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Besides being politically prejudiced against China, the "ruling" is riddled with errors and biases, distorting international law and undermining the norms of international relations. China's sovereignty over its South China Sea islands, and its relevant rights and interests therein, are rooted in history and are solidly grounded in international law. Beijing has consistently made it clear that it will not accept any claim or action based on the "award".

Despite this, some countries such as Japan have joined the Philippines in hyping up the "arbitration" in an attempt to reignite the dying embers of the "ruling". An official from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the chief minister of the Japanese embassy in China on Sunday to express strong dissatisfaction with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi playing up the so-called "arbitral award" 10 years after its issuance.

Unfortunately, such irresponsible actions by Tokyo have become par for the course. China also made stern representations regarding Japan's interference in the Taiwan question, its abandoned chemical weapons, unwarranted statements by parliamentarians on China's ethnic policies and the negative trends in Japan's military policies.

The ministry also pointed out that Japan has never addressed its historical responsibilities concerning the South China Sea issue, which leaves it in no position to pass judgment.

By turning a blind eye to the glaring flaws in the "award" while endorsing it, Japan has laid bare its double standards and hypocrisy. If the "award" were to be taken as a standard, the islands and reefs of many countries would be denied the basis for claiming maritime rights and interests. Have those countries that support the "award" voluntarily renounced the maritime rights and interests derived from their islands and reefs?

The continued promotion of the illegal "award" by certain countries contradicts the trend of peace and stability in the region, and goes against the aspirations of countries and people in the region for development and prosperity.

Beijing urges relevant countries to respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea and stop stirring up trouble. China will resolutely and forcefully counter any provocation and firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. 

Japan's persistent troublemaking should be concerning for all countries in the region. It has been stepping up its provocations in collaboration with the Philippines, and it has been expanding its exports of weapons and military equipment to the country under the guise of "donations".

These actions go far beyond the scope of "self-defense". More than ever, the region must maintain a vigilant stance against Japan's neo-militarist ambitions, so as to prevent its "free and open Indo-Pacific" scheme from being exploited as a vehicle to undermine regional peace and stability.