China rebuts Philippines’ move on Huangyan

China has firmly rejected the Philippines' delimitation of the so-called "baselines of the territorial sea" of Huangyan Island, calling the move "a grave infringement upon China's territorial sovereignty and a serious violation of international law".

The move "is illegal, null and void. China firmly rejects and will never accept it", the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

China has indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Island and its adjacent waters, and has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters, the statement said, adding that the country has continuously, peacefully and effectively exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over the island.

It emphasized that Huangyan Island has never been part of the Philippines' territory, which has been defined by a series of international treaties. The Philippines' illegal territorial claim over Huangyan Island is completely baseless under international law, it added.

Slamming Philippines' unilateral initiation of the "South China Sea arbitration", the statement said its so-called "award" is illegal, null and void, and has no binding force. China neither accepts nor recognizes the "award", and it opposes and will never accept any claim or action based on the same "award", the statement added.

It also rebutted the Philippines' so-called "Maritime Zones Act", pushing back against its attempts to illegally include Huangyan Island, most of the islands and reefs of China's Nansha Islands, and their relevant waters into its maritime zones, and to solidify the illegal "award of the South China Sea arbitration" in the form of domestic legislation.

"It severely violates China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, and is illegal, null and void," the statement said, stressing that China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests over Huangyan Island and the Nansha Islands shall under no circumstances be affected by the so-called "Maritime Zones Act".

The Philippines was also reproved for undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea, as it has been frequently making provocations in the territorial waters of Huangyan Island and hyping up the maritime issues between the two countries, according to the statement. "These maneuvers trample on China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and heighten maritime tensions," it said.

Beijing urges Manila to earnestly respect its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and refrain from any act of infringement or provocation concerning Huangyan Island, the statement said, warning that otherwise, China will respond resolutely.