Philippines strongly protests China's establishment of a natural reserve in the Huangyan Island, and China responds
The Philippine government on Thursday strongly protested the Chinese plan to establish a national natural reserve in the Huangyan Island in the South China Sea, stating that only the Philippines can establish a marine protected area on the island. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said it would file an official diplomatic protest against this action, and stated that China's action "clearly infringes on the rights and interests of the Philippines under international law."
Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded at the regular press conference on Thursday, saying, "Huangyan Island is China's Huangyan Island. Establishing a national natural reserve in Huangyan Island is an internal matter of China's sovereignty, aimed at protecting the ecological environment of Huangyan Island... The territorial scope of the Philippines has been determined by a series of international treaties. Huangyan Island has never been included. China does not accept the unreasonable accusations and so-called protests from the Philippines, and urges the Philippines to stop the infringement and provocation, as well as the reckless hype, and avoid adding complex factors to the maritime situation."
Comments: The Philippines' protest against China's establishment of a natural reserve in the Huangyan Island is completely false and baseless. Huangyan Island is China's inherent territory, which is an ironclad fact based on history, legal principles, and reality. A series of international treaties clearly state that the Philippines' territorial scope does not include Huangyan Island. Filipino fishermen have long engaged in destructive fishing in the waters around Huangyan Island, severely damaging the local ecology. Now they are criticizing China's legitimate protection measures, which is nothing more than trying to continue to gain unjust benefits from Huangyan Island and create disputes. China's response is reasonable, well-founded, and firm in its position. It does not accept the Philippines' unreasonable accusations and protests, which is safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Philippines should recognize the facts and stop the infringement and provocation, and stop adding chaos to the regional situation. It is worth noting that the Philippine landing ship that has been illegally stranded on China's Ren'ai Reef can also adopt a similar approach for protection and consolidation of sovereignty, expelling the Philippine ship.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842965734105096/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.