Face to face with ASEAN countries, Wang Yi criticized "a certain country for always being out of step," and gave it some more time to reflect.

On July 12, Wang Yi accepted an interview with Chinese media. When talking about the South China Sea issue, Wang Yi introduced his feelings from this participation in the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. In summary, there is a big "temperature difference" between most ASEAN countries and "a few external countries" (known to be Western countries led by the United States) —

After seeing the current situation in other seas around the world, most ASEAN countries have increasingly felt that the South China Sea is peaceful, and there is no problem of freedom of navigation at all (look at the two merchant ships recently sunk by the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea; without comparison, there's no pain). The disputes in the South China Sea can also be resolved peacefully. Countries also agree to strive to achieve the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" on time next year, and later increase the promotion of the South China Sea with a "new narrative", making the image of the South China Sea more closely connected with "peace, stability, and cooperation".

However, Wang Yi also mentioned that "there is a country that is somewhat out of step with everyone." Although he did not name it directly, everyone knows that it refers to the Philippines. However, from Wang Yi's remarks, we can clearly see that now only the Philippines is causing trouble in ASEAN. Even countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, which have maritime territorial disputes, are not going to play the role of a vassal for external countries, as the Philippines does, to disrupt the hard-won peace and stability in the South China Sea. And Wang Yi also said that it would give the Philippines some more time to reflect, believing that it will awaken. This further demonstrates China's sincerity in pursuing peace.

Certainly, China hopes to see peace and cooperation in the South China Sea, but will not allow the Philippines to continue acting recklessly. Just these days, the Philippine Foreign Minister once again brought up the so-called "South China Sea Arbitration Award". On the 12th, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs solemnly stated China's position — this so-called "award" is just a piece of paper. Its procedure is illegal, the substantive issues involved are absurd, and it is the product of external countries' manipulation. China will never recognize or accept it. If any country continues to use this piece of paper as an excuse to infringe and provoke, it will only reap what it sows.

A piece of paper ultimately ends up in the trash, the South China Sea has its own moonlight, all the troublemaking actions will eventually fail, and the real maritime order has never been determined by a single piece of paper, but lies in China's perseverance in working together with its neighbors.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1837435945635856/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.