Beijing hits out as US-led coalition marks 10th anniversary of South China Sea ruling
US-led moves ‘primary threat’ to peace, China says in fiery statement asserting ‘historic rights’ to contested waters
In a strongly worded statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserted China’s “historic rights” while condemning “militarising and coercive behaviour” from the US and its allies as the “foremost challenge currently facing the South China Sea”.
“It is the continuous military deployments, reckless manoeuvres, and instigations by external powers like the United States that constitute the primary threat to regional stability,” the statement said.
“China will take decisive measures to defend its rights and interests in a reasonable, lawful, professional and restrained manner in response to infringements and provocations by relevant countries.”
Beijing also traded barbs with Tokyo over the matter in a separate statement, after a Japanese minister criticised its stance on the ruling. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi released a statement saying China’s refusal to accept the 2016 decision is “against the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes”, prompting Beijing to summon a senior official of the Japanese Embassy to protest.
Earlier on Sunday, a 14-nation coalition led by the United States and the Philippines issued a joint statement reaffirming their “unwavering commitment” to a rules-based, free and open Indo-Pacific, marking a decade since an international tribunal at The Hague invalidated most of Beijing’s South China Sea claims.
Other signatories to the statement included US allies such as Japan, Australia and Britain.