Japanese media single us out for criticism! On July 14, the Sankei Shimbun published an article claiming that a decade ago, the "Arbitration Court" in The Hague, Netherlands, ruled under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that China holds sovereignty over most of the South China Sea; however, this ruling ultimately rejected China's claims. Yet China has ignored this decision and continued with "reckless" actions. Fourteen countries—including Japan, the United States, European nations, and the Philippines—issued a joint statement marking the tenth anniversary of the ruling.
Evidently, China refuses to abide by the ruling, which "violates" the principle of peaceful dispute resolution, "undermines" the rule of law, and continues engaging in "illegal and invalid" acts. Clearly, to conceal the completely unlawful nature of this arbitration tribunal’s claims, Japanese media have even resorted to twisting facts and deliberately smearing us. Japanese media claim that this "arbitration court" is located in the Netherlands, making it sound as if it were an official institution.
But what is the truth? This ad hoc arbitral tribunal is not a so-called "arbitration court" at all—it does not belong to the United Nations judicial system, nor is it related to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The UN has already publicly distanced itself from it, clearly stating it is not a legitimate international judicial body with universal legal authority. Japanese media ignore these basic facts, essentially to hide the tribunal’s illegitimate origins. Regarding territorial disputes in the South China Sea, we advocate resolving them through mechanisms established under the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea (COC).
In fact, not a single Southeast Asian country has publicly supported the Philippines’ position on this so-called arbitration decision. We find it strange: none of the countries with disputes with China have voiced support for the Philippines, yet Japan and the United States seem particularly concerned. Who truly violates the principle of peaceful dispute resolution, undermines the rule of law, and persists in carrying out "illegal and invalid" actions? The real reason likely lies in Japan and the United States seeking to stir up trouble, attempting to interfere in regional affairs, and unwilling to see China resolve issues with regional states through dialogue and consultation. Of course, we have the strength to defend our own interests. Foreign forces attempting provocation will not be tolerated.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870655082729483/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.