China wants peaceful settlement of Huangyan Island dispute with Philippines
Dhaka, June 17 (UNB) - China seeks peaceful settlement of the current disputes over its Huangyan Island in South China Sea with Philippines.
Yang Zhaohui, political counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, told reporters today that the Island belongs to China since ancient times and exercised effective jurisdiction on it.
Referring to the April 10 incident, he said when 12 fishing boast from Hainan, China were conducting normal operation in the Huangyan Island lagoon, the Philippines Navy warship Gregorio del Pilar blocked the entrance to the lagoon.
The incident triggered tension in the Island that led to the suspension of the diplomatic interactions between the Philippines authority and the Chinese Embassy in Manila for 14 days.
Zhaohui said an archaeological ship of the Philippines stayed in the lagoon for illegal operation and refused to leave the site until April 18 after China’s repeated representations.
‘’We’ve exercised maximum restraint as we uphold peaceful settlement of any dispute over territorial sea with its neighbours,’’ he told a correspondent.
Zhaohui said China believes that all countries are equal that does not mean a smaller country can bully a big country with the backing of another country.
He would not name the backer but said studying various reports over the incident one can perceive who is backing Philippines by proving war ships and political support.
He said the April incident has severely damaged the bilateral relations with Philippines.
In reply to a question he said the matter has ended temporarily. ‘’ We will continue our efforts to settle the matter through consultations,’’ he added.
To prevent further provocation by the Philippines, Zhaohui said the Chinese public service ships have continued to keep close watch over Huangyan Island waters.
Asked if China would go to the international court for the settlement, Zhaohui said they would not go to the court since the Island has been the part of China since the ancient times.
He said before 1997 the Philippines officially stated that Huangyan Island did not belong to the Philippines.
But since May 1997 the Philippines exposed its intention to occupy the Island and in 2009 the Philippine Territorial Sea baselines Act was amended to include the Island into its territory.
Zhaohui asserted that the Philippines’s position Huangyan Island has been inconsistent and self-contradictory according to the international law.
He said before the 1990s the Philippines had never challenged China’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Island.
In the late 90’s the Philippines advanced its claim over the Island on the ground of geographic proximity and on the plea that it is located within 200 nautical miles of the Philippine EEZ.
Zhaohui said the principle of geographic proximity does not provide the legal basis for territorial sovereignty while its EEZ-base claim violated the principle of international law that ‘’the land dominates the sea,’’ and it is also a misinterpretation and abuse of the UNCLOS.
Asked about current ethnic conflict in Myanmar, the Chinese diplomat said China wants to see peaceful settlement of all ethnic or religious conflicts.
However, he would not comment on Bangladesh’s refusal to give shelter to Rohingyas fleeing the Myanmar violence.
Yang Zhaohui, political counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, told reporters today that the Island belongs to China since ancient times and exercised effective jurisdiction on it.
Referring to the April 10 incident, he said when 12 fishing boast from Hainan, China were conducting normal operation in the Huangyan Island lagoon, the Philippines Navy warship Gregorio del Pilar blocked the entrance to the lagoon.
The incident triggered tension in the Island that led to the suspension of the diplomatic interactions between the Philippines authority and the Chinese Embassy in Manila for 14 days.
Zhaohui said an archaeological ship of the Philippines stayed in the lagoon for illegal operation and refused to leave the site until April 18 after China’s repeated representations.
‘’We’ve exercised maximum restraint as we uphold peaceful settlement of any dispute over territorial sea with its neighbours,’’ he told a correspondent.
Zhaohui said China believes that all countries are equal that does not mean a smaller country can bully a big country with the backing of another country.
He would not name the backer but said studying various reports over the incident one can perceive who is backing Philippines by proving war ships and political support.
He said the April incident has severely damaged the bilateral relations with Philippines.
In reply to a question he said the matter has ended temporarily. ‘’ We will continue our efforts to settle the matter through consultations,’’ he added.
To prevent further provocation by the Philippines, Zhaohui said the Chinese public service ships have continued to keep close watch over Huangyan Island waters.
Asked if China would go to the international court for the settlement, Zhaohui said they would not go to the court since the Island has been the part of China since the ancient times.
He said before 1997 the Philippines officially stated that Huangyan Island did not belong to the Philippines.
But since May 1997 the Philippines exposed its intention to occupy the Island and in 2009 the Philippine Territorial Sea baselines Act was amended to include the Island into its territory.
Zhaohui asserted that the Philippines’s position Huangyan Island has been inconsistent and self-contradictory according to the international law.
He said before the 1990s the Philippines had never challenged China’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Island.
In the late 90’s the Philippines advanced its claim over the Island on the ground of geographic proximity and on the plea that it is located within 200 nautical miles of the Philippine EEZ.
Zhaohui said the principle of geographic proximity does not provide the legal basis for territorial sovereignty while its EEZ-base claim violated the principle of international law that ‘’the land dominates the sea,’’ and it is also a misinterpretation and abuse of the UNCLOS.
Asked about current ethnic conflict in Myanmar, the Chinese diplomat said China wants to see peaceful settlement of all ethnic or religious conflicts.
However, he would not comment on Bangladesh’s refusal to give shelter to Rohingyas fleeing the Myanmar violence.
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