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Negotiations really can solve South China Sea dispute

Editor: Li Shouen 丨CCTV.com

06-08-2016 17:58 BJT

By Ling Dequan, researcher with Center for World Affairs Studies, Xinhua News Agency

China adheres to the path of peaceful development and an independent foreign policy of peace.  Beijing has attached great importance to its neighboring diplomacy of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and is also committed to advancing peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region.

China adheres to the common, comprehensive, cooperative, sustainable Asian security concept. New international relations can be oriented by win-win cooperation to build a community of common destiny.  Beijing endorses cooperative China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) sustainability and promotes an Asian community of common destiny.

The nation is a firm defender of peace and stability in the South China Sea (SCS) as well, which has never claimed rights of the whole SCS region and will not expand its territorial rights in the SCS.

The Chinese love to have friendly neighbors. But that doesn’t mean it will allow other countries to invade its sovereign territories.

China has shown restraint towards other countries’ challenges in the South China Sea, even with its defense measures handled in an unimpeachable manner. 

In regards to the South China Sea, Beijing advocates “double track thinking”, i.e. disputes related to the Nansha Islands should be solved by negotiations of the related nations; the peace and stability of the SCS region should be safeguarded by China and ASEAN countries.

They have signed a Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in 2002, proposing all state parties should avoid seeking solutions through the use of force.

Directly-involved countries could discuss ways to suspend disputes to develop jointly and control differences to find a solution for both sides to agree upon.

China and ASEAN could accelerate a conclusion of the “code of conducts in South China Sea” and to explore new channels of cooperation.

“Double track thinking” stands in conformity with solving disputes peacefully through negotiations as advocated by the UN Charter and the 4th item in the DOC. So it should be a viable solution for the disputes.

Nonetheless, the UN arbitration case that was initiated unilaterally by the Philippines goes against “double track thinking.”

The action ignores a prior consensus reached between Beijing and Manila. It gives a blind-eye to China as a sovereign nation and ignores an independent choice for a conflict-solving mechanism as entitled to contracting parties of the DOC.

An arbitration judgment cannot deny China’s sovereignty over the South China Sea and its maritime rights. China’s territorial rights have been formed through a long history and don’t require legitimacy from other countries. Beijing had declared in 2006, according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, that disputes related to the sea area demarcation are excluded from compulsory dispute settlement procedures including arbitration.

Islands in the South China Sea used to be China’s territory in ancient times. Safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and rightful maritime rights remain the sole responsibility of the Chinese government.

For years, under joint efforts between China and other coastal countries, the South China Sea had been at peace. There were no conflicts over navigation and flights in the region, which would also be important for China’s development.

Beijing will adhere to solving disputes through negotiations according to international law. China has confidence to work with ASEAN to maintain stability, and welcomes extraterritorial countries to play a part in Asia’s peaceful development.

Realizing sustainable rapid development is the greatest common divisor for Asian countries that needs a peaceful environment to be respected by extraterritorial countries.

South China Sea needs peace instead of war, and talks instead of conflicts. For their respective strategic interests, some countries are turning the South China Sea into an arena of great powers that could harm people’s welfare and interests in the region.

The US is just an extraterritorial country, not a directly-related country or a contracting state of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It has no reason to make carping comments on the disputes. China and the US are building a new model of major-country relationship that should stay committed to the principles of non-confrontation, non-conflict, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. South China Sea should not become an arena for geo-political contests.

Washington should conform with the times and abandon its “cold war” mindset to respect Beijing’s territorial sovereignty and take the right actions for regional stability, peace and development.

Ling Dequan


( The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com. )

 

 

Panview offers a new window of understanding the world as well as China through the views, opinions, and analysis of experts. We also welcome outside submissions, so feel free to send in your own editorials to "globalopinion@vip.cntv.cn" for consideration.

Panview offers an alternative angle on China and the rest of the world through the analyses and opinions of experts. We also welcome outside submissions, so feel free to send in your own editorials to "globalopinion@vip.cntv.cn" for consideration.

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