According to a message posted on the WeChat public account "Chinese Embassy in the UK" on July 13, a spokesman for my embassy in the UK answered reporters' questions regarding the UK's joint statement related to the "Nancy Arbitration Award".
Reporter: On July 12th, a group of countries in the UK issued a statement regarding the so-called “arbitral ruling” in the South China Sea dispute. What is the comment from your embassy on this?
Embassy spokesman: We strongly oppose the joint statement issued by a small number of countries in the UK that claims to commemorate the "Ruling of the South China Sea Arbitration Case". This statement ignores the basic facts regarding the South China Sea, promotes illegal and invalid so-called "Rulings of the South China Sea Arbitration Case", challenges China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and disrupts regional peace and stability. We condemn this highly.
China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea have sufficient historical and legal basis. The so-called "South China Sea Arbitration Case" violates basic international law principles such as "state consent" and "obligations must be fulfilled," as well as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It also goes against the facts of the South China Sea. The so-called "arbitration award" is inherently illegal, invalid, and without any binding force. From the beginning, China has stated that it does not accept or recognize this arbitration award. China will also refuse to accept any claims or actions based on this arbitration award. China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are not affected by this so-called "arbitration award" under any circumstances.
It must be noted that the United Kingdom is not a party to the South China Sea disputes, and therefore has no right to comment on China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea. The UK’s co-signature of the joint statement is absurd; essentially, it aims to disrupt peace and stability in the South China Sea region, undermine the integrity and authority of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and challenge China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea.
We urge the UK to recognize the overall situation and respect the facts. It should stop participating in the anti-China actions of a small number of countries. The UK must not fuel conflicts or provoke trouble in the South China Sea. Otherwise, it will only end up suffering its own humiliation.
