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Alyssa Chen

A Chinese researcher told a forum on Tuesday that the unilateral action of “certain countries” was raising tensions in the South China Sea, while Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing was willing to work with its neighbours to manage their maritime disputes.
Wang also warned that any attempt to violate another country’s sovereign rights and interests without regard to “the basic facts” would end in failure.
China’s top diplomat made the remarks in a pre-recorded video address to the Symposium on Global Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance. Academics, diplomats and officials from over 25 countries and regions are attending the two-day forum in Hainan province.
Wang stressed the importance of long-term maritime security in the region.
“Territorial and maritime disputes should be resolved peacefully through friendly consultations between the parties involved,” he said.
“China is willing to work with relevant countries to negotiate and resolve maritime disputes, maintaining peace, stability and lasting security at sea.”


Tensions have been rising over the disputed South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes. China claims most of the resource-rich waterway, but those claims are disputed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. There have been increasing run-ins between Chinese and Philippine vessels in recent years, including confrontations near the contested Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, where a grounded warship serves as a military outpost for the Philippines.
China has frequently accused “external force” the United States of worsening tensions in the South China Sea by conducting drills and patrols in the area in support of its long-time ally the Philippines.
Last week Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed that the US has a task force named Ayungin – the Philippine name for Second Thomas Shoal – stationed on the Philippine island of Palawan.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the forum, Wu Shicun, founder of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said unilateral action taken by “certain countries” was exacerbating the South China Sea situation.
He said bilateral and minilateral security mechanisms in the region were “targeted or designed for China”, and some claimant states were unilaterally progressing oil and gas extractions and land reclamation work.
“Another challenge facing the region is the detrimental impact of the Manila-initiated arbitration award against China,” Wu said.
That international tribunal ruling in 2016 dismissed Beijing’s sweeping claims to the South China Sea. Beijing refused to take part in the arbitration and has rejected the ruling.
“[This] is the troublemaker for peace and stability in the South China Sea and the troublemaker in bilateral relations between China and the Philippines,” Wu said.
He added that Beijing had not participated in the arbitration partly because Manila’s submissions involved a territorial and maritime delimitation dispute, which he said the tribunal had no jurisdiction over.
In another discussion, Dang Dinh Quy, former Vietnamese deputy minister of foreign affairs and senior adviser of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, said the region was “facing a paradox and there are more challenges and less cooperation”. He said efforts to cooperate were “usually hindered by great power competition”.
Wu said littoral countries could start with “small, long-term and less sensitive” cooperation projects such as fishery surveys. “Such cooperation is possible, easy to start and will benefit all participants,” he said.
In the video address, Wang also called for sustainable ocean development and for nations to share their experience.
“We should continuously expand practical maritime cooperation and fully explore the potential of the oceans,” he said. “China is willing to share its achievements and experience in marine development with other countries and promote a closer blue partnership.”


Also speaking at the forum, Chen Xiaodong, foreign vice-minister, reaffirmed China’s commitment to maintaining peace in the region through dialogue and consultation.
He said Beijing kept up “continuous communication” with Manila through a bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea, while China and Malaysia had held their first maritime dialogue to discuss future cooperation.
“China has always advocated that disputes between relevant parties be resolved through negotiation and consultation and strongly opposes interference by external forces that could disrupt the relationships among countries and threaten regional peace and stability,” Chen said.


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China’s top diplomat Wang Yi said territorial disputes should be “resolved peacefully through friendly consultations between the parties involved”. Photo: Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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A Philippine resupply vessel (in green) encounters a Chinese coastguard boat near the Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin Shoal, in the disputed South China Sea. China has repeatedly impeded Manila’s missions to repair and resupply the BRP Sierra Madre grounded at the shoal. Photo: AP

A dilapidated but still active Philippine Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre sits at the Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin Shoal, at the disputed South China Sea. Photo: AP

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Chinese and Philippine coastguards have clashed repeatedly near a grounded Philippine warship on Second Thomas Shoal. Photo: Xinhua

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Chinese Maritime Militia vessels are pictured near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on March 5, 2024. Photo: Reuters

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr delivers a speech after signing two new maritime laws in Manila on November 8. Photo: EPA-EFE

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Chinese militia vessels pictured near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. Photo: Reuters

Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro last week visited the strategic Palawan province. Photo: EPA-EFE

News

China

Diplomacy

In video address to symposium, top diplomat also warns any attempt to violate sovereign rights that ignores ‘the basic facts’ will fail


In video address to symposium, top diplomat also warns any attempt to violate sovereign rights that ignores ‘the basic facts’ will fail.


China-Philippines relations

South China Sea: Hague case

China-Asean relations