Photo: Collected
Beijing will keep protecting its rights and interests in the South China Sea, but it is also ready to resolve any regional issues and disagreements with other nations through peaceful dialogue, the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) said on Monday (4 March).
"As for the South China Sea, I want to stress that China will keep decisively protecting its territorial sovereignty, as well as maritime rights and interests. At the same time, we are ready to resolve issues with relevant countries through dialogue and consultations to maintain peace and stability in the region together," Lou Qinjian, the spokesman for the second session of the 14th NPC, told a press conference.
Beijing opposes the idea of bloc confrontation, he said. China's cooperation with the neighboring countries is "inclusive rather than exclusive," Lou added.
The second session of the 14th NPC will take place in China from March 5-11, bringing together 2,897 delegates who are expected to approve the country's budget for 2024.
The territorial affiliation of a number of islands and reefs in the South China Sea has been the subject of disputes between China, Philippines and several other Asia-Pacific countries for decades. Significant oil and gas reserves have been discovered on the continental shelf of those islands, including the Paracel Islands, Thitu Island, Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands, with the Whitson Reef being their part. The disputes also involve Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan to some extent.
In July 2016, following a lawsuit filed by the Philippines, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China has no grounds for territorial claims in the South China Sea. The court ruled that the islands are not disputed territory and do not constitute an exclusive economic zone, but Beijing refused to recognize or accept the ruling.
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