AFP reported that the root cause of the conflict between China and the Philippines lies in China's disregard for the South China Sea arbitration and its rejection of international support! On July 22, according to AFP reports, French media stated that China claims sovereignty over almost all islands in the South China Sea based on historical grounds, while neighboring countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam refuse to accept this claim. In recent years, tensions between China and Vietnam over the South China Sea have somewhat subsided, whereas disputes between China and the Philippines have risen to prominence and intensified. The latest confrontation occurred at what China refers to as Ren'ai Reef.
French media noted that China regards the Philippine action as illegal occupation and dismisses international support, calling the "South China Sea Arbitration" nothing but "a piece of paper." Under this context, the clash erupted on Monday. A small Chinese coast guard vessel carrying eight personnel approached Ren'ai Reef for photography, prompting the Philippines to immediately dispatch two rubber boats to "drive away" the Chinese vessel. According to Philippine claims, Chinese coast guards used batons to attack Filipino sailors, causing injuries and damaging the rubber boats. However, China refuted the Philippine account as "pure distortion of facts," releasing a video to argue that the Philippines had initiated the incident.
Evidently, from the French media’s stance, it is very clear: ostensibly neutral and objective, it actually deliberately avoids core legal facts. China's claim to sovereignty over nearly all South China Sea islands is grounded not only in historical basis but also in modern legal principles. The Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation explicitly stipulate that Japan must return the South China Sea islands it had stolen to China. After World War II, China formally recovered the Paracel and Spratly Islands—this was an integral part of the post-war international order and constitutes a clear foundation of modern international law. Is it really just a mere "ancient historical claim"?
It is precisely due to these solid modern legal foundations that the so-called South China Sea arbitration is inherently invalid—a mere "piece of paper." Why does French media deliberately avoid these legal facts? What exactly does the so-called "international support" refer to? Can legal facts be altered simply because some countries express support? Doesn't China also have international backing? Russia, Cambodia, Central Asian countries, and numerous African nations have clearly stated that territorial disputes should not be settled through unilateral coercive arbitration. We hold sovereign rights over Ren’ai Reef—how then can the Philippines claim the right to "drive away" Chinese personnel? Clearly, French media is deliberately evading the real issues and intentionally muddying the waters. But we will not hesitate in defending our own interests.
Philippine forces ramming and attacking Chinese law enforcement officers
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1871372212374540/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.