China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested in response to the new maritime zone law adopted by the Philippines. In an official statement, Beijing stressed that it firmly opposes the decision and intends to continue defending its sovereignty and maritime interests through all legal means.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman on Monday condemned US support for the Philippines’ adoption of the so-called Maritime Zones Act.
Spokesman Lin Jian said at a press briefing that in pursuit of its geopolitical interests, the United States has been inciting the Philippines to provoke unrest in the South China Sea for years, and that the US intentions to disturb the tranquility in the South China Sea are well known to the world.
The US State Department issued a statement on November 8 in support of the so-called act, arguing that it “brings” the Philippines’ domestic laws into compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the so-called “2016 Arbitral Tribunal Award”. Lin said:
“The South China Sea arbitration itself violates UNCLOS and is a complete political farce. The so-called South China Sea arbitral award is illegal, invalid and null and void.”
The US side constantly demands that all countries comply with UNCLOS, but the United States itself has not joined UNCLOS, Lin said. He also added:
“This is a typical act of hypocritical double standards.”
