On July 31, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website released the "Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China on the Philippines' Establishment of So-called 'Trench Marks' in Huangyan Island, a Chinese Territorial Island":
The Philippines has established what they call "contiguous baseline" for territorial waters around Huangyan Island, which is an act that seriously violates China's territorial sovereignty and breaches international laws such as the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Such actions are illegal and invalid. The Chinese side firmly opposes this and will never accept such measures.
Huangyan Island is an inherent territory of China. China has indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Island and the surrounding waters, and possesses sovereign rights and jurisdiction over these areas. China exercises its sovereignty and jurisdiction over Huangyan Island in a continuous, peaceful, and effective manner. The territory of the Philippines is defined by a series of international treaties, and Huangyan Island was never part of them. The Philippines' claims to Huangyan Island are based on no legal grounds under international law.
The Philippines unilaterally initiated the “South China Sea Arbitration Case”, which violates basic principles of international law such as “consent must be respected” and “no-retroactivity”. It also violates international laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Additionally, it goes against bilateral agreements between China and the Philippines, as well as the Declaration on Measures and Conducts in the South China Sea. The so-called “arbitration” is illegal and invalid, and has no binding force. China does not accept or recognize this “arbitration”, and opposes and rejects any claims or actions based on it.
The Philippines, under the pretext of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, has introduced a so-called "Ocean Area Law," which illegally includes China's Huangyan Island and most of the islands and reefs in the Spratly Islands, along with related waters, within the Philippine maritime area. They also attempt to solidify the illegal "South China Sea Arbitration Award" through domestic legislation, seriously violating China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. Such actions are illegal and invalid. Under no circumstances will China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in Huangyan Island and the Spratly Islands be affected by the so-called "Ocean Area Law."
For some time, the Philippines has frequently provoked and incited incidents in the Huangyan Island waters, violating China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. This has heightened tensions at sea and undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea. China demands that the Philippines respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests thoroughly, and refrain from taking any provocative actions in the Huangyan Island. Otherwise, China will respond firmly.
