Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming in the UK: in the South do not play with fire

International online coverage (by Ao Danna): on June 10, the United Kingdom, the Daily Telegraph print edition and online editions published in China in United Kingdom Ambassador Liu Xiaoming signed article, entitled don't play with fire in South China Sea.

Liu Xiaoming pointed out in the article, recently, the United Kingdom public concerns over the upcoming British EU referendum, but equally deserving of attention in the South China Sea area environment. Although the United Kingdom public may know about the South China Sea is not deep, but on whether it should accept the Philippines South China Sea is about to announce the outcome of arbitration the Arbitration Tribunal has been very very hot. Some people say that if China does not accept the outcome of arbitration, is the destruction of the "rule-based international order," peace and stability in the South China Sea is at stake. We do not agree with this view.

Liu Xiaoming said that arbitration case is the essence of the South China Sea in the Philippines the Philippine side unilateral attempt to launder their illegally occupied Spratly island reefs. United Kingdom the public may not be aware, there are currently more than 40 more belonging to China's Nansha and other neighboring countries of illegal occupation of the Philippines, and much above the construction of airport runways, deployment of weapons and equipment. Stir from time to time in the Philippines, sent warships to force illegal "beach", openly attempting to use China's Islands as their own. But China has maintained great restraint, resolve the dispute through negotiation, until the problem is resolved "putting aside disputes and joint development." However, the Philippines has put China's restraint as weakness and a yard. They now not only to illegal possession of the islands of China, but also show they put on one of the arbitral "legitimate" coat. But the Tribunal is simply not the case.

Liu pointed out that recourse to arbitration matters in the Philippines, ostensibly involved in reef and fishery disputes, in fact, is inextricably linked to territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation and territorial claims is not within the jurisdiction of the United Nations Convention on the law of the. Issues relating to maritime delimitation, China has, pursuant to the Convention in 2006, will be excluded from compulsory dispute settlement mechanism. United Kingdom, more than more than 30 countries have made similar statements. Therefore, the arbitral tribunal to have no jurisdiction over territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation disputes. Knowing that illegal in the Philippines, but is determined to initiate an arbitration, is typical of the "indiscriminate"; arbitral tribunal knowingly unlawful, but the case is typical of "abuse of power".

Liu believes that China has refused to participate in the arbitration case in order to defend international law. The Convention requires first dispute through bilateral channels, third-party mechanisms such as arbitration can only be a "last resort" support path. In the South China Sea in the arbitration case, and between China and the Philippines were far from exhausted bilateral means, the Tribunal has rashly agreed to compulsory arbitration, if not a lack of respect at least the basic spirit and principles of the Convention, that is, have other aims.

He suggested that the who behind the arbitration case is, discerning people know perfectly well. Over the years, the foreign countries to speed up the pace of implementation of the Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy, its Asia-Pacific policy and politicians repeatedly made the provocative remarks on the South China Sea, and its military has significantly intensified in the South China Sea and neighboring power. Arbitration case this is what countries in the South China Sea in the Philippines behind writing the script, the Philippines is only acting in the foreground. Fantastic, however, is when the countries accused of other violations of the Convention, but he has so far refused to be the members of the Convention.

Liu said, my advice to the Philippines rein in as soon as possible and return to the negotiating track to solve the problem. I also urge those outside forces pull back in a timely manner, do not try to chestnut out of fire. Only the parties to international law and on the basis of historical facts, consultation and negotiation with each other, to really address the South China Sea, the South China Sea the waters return to calm, so that lasting peace, cooperation and prosperity in the region.

(Editors: Pan Yi burn UN657)
2016-06-11 17:54:25
International online

中国驻英大使刘晓明：不要在南海玩火

　　国际在线报道（记者 敖丹娜）：6月10日，英国《每日电讯报》纸质版和网络版同时刊登中国驻英国大使刘晓明题为《不要在南海玩火》的署名文章。

　　刘晓明在文章中指出，近来，英国公众十分关注即将举行的英欧关系公投，但南海地区形势发展同样值得关注。尽管英国公众可能对南海问题了解不深，但关于中国是否应接受菲律宾南海仲裁庭即将宣布的仲裁结果已被炒得很热。一些人称，如果中国不接受仲裁结果，就是破坏了“基于规则的国际秩序”，南海和平稳定就岌岌可危。我们绝不同意这种观点。

　　刘晓明表示，菲律宾南海仲裁案的实质是菲方企图单方面将其非法占有南沙群岛岛礁合法化。英国公众可能不知道，目前有40多个属于中国的南沙岛礁被菲律宾等周边国家非法侵占，并在上面大肆修建机场跑道，部署武器装备。菲律宾还不时挑起事端，派出军舰强行非法“坐滩”，堂而皇之地企图将中国岛礁据为己有。但中国一直保持着极大的克制，主张通过谈判协商解决争议，在问题解决前可以“搁置争议、共同开发”。然而，菲律宾却把中国的克制视为软弱可欺，得寸进尺。他们现在不仅要非法占有中国的岛礁，还要仲裁庭给他们披上一件“合法”的外衣。但仲裁庭根本无权受理此案。

　　刘晓明指出，菲律宾诉诸仲裁的事项，表面上涉及岛礁性质和渔业争端，实际上与领土主权和海洋划界有着密不可分的联系，而领土主权问题不在《联合国海洋法公约》管辖范围内。有关海洋划界等问题，中国早在2006年就已依据《公约》将其排除在强制争端解决机制之外。英国等30多个国家也作出了类似声明。因此，仲裁庭对领土主权和海洋划界争端都没有管辖权。菲律宾明知不合法，却执意提起仲裁，是典型的“滥诉”；仲裁庭明知不合法，却执意受理此案，是典型的“滥权”。

　　刘晓明认为，中国拒绝参与仲裁案正是为了捍卫国际法。《公约》首先要求的是通过双边渠道解决争议，仲裁等第三方机制只能是一种“不得已”的辅助途径。而在南海仲裁案中，中菲间远未用尽双边手段，仲裁庭却轻率同意强制仲裁，如果不是缺乏对《公约》基本精神和原则的起码尊重，那就是别有所图。

　　他提出，仲裁案背后的推手是谁，明眼人都心知肚明。一段时期以来，这个域外国家加快实施亚太再平衡战略的步伐，其政客多次就亚太政策以及南海问题发表挑衅性言论，其军方也大幅强化在南海及周边的力量投入。菲律宾南海仲裁案就是有这样的国家在幕后写剧本，菲律宾不过是在前台演戏而已。然而荒诞的是，当这个国家指责别国违反《公约》，却忘了自己至今仍拒绝成为《公约》的成员。

　　刘晓明说，我奉劝菲律宾尽早悬崖勒马，回到谈判解决问题的轨道上来。我也奉劝那些域外势力及时收手，不要试图火中取栗。只有让当事方在国际法和历史事实的基础上，彼此坦诚地协商与谈判，才能真正解决南海问题，让南海这片海域重归平静，让这个地区长久享有和平、合作与繁荣。

(责任编辑：潘奕燃 UN657)
2016-06-11 17:54:25
国际在线