To the Editor:
Re “South China Sea Dispute” (letter, June 1):
The Philippine Embassy is compelled to reply to the Chinese Embassy’s letter attempting to justify China’s actions.
China’s unilateral actions in the past years in the disputed areas of the South China Sea have raised the level of tensions and uncertainty to its current state. Against a chorus of calls for restraint, China has prevented coastal states from exercising their legitimate rights under the Law of the Sea Convention, carried out environmentally destructive island building, embarked on militarization of the disputed areas in the guise of providing “public goods,” and threatened freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded trade.
The Philippines turned to arbitration as a last resort after our numerous efforts at direct talks were met with the impossible precondition of accepting China’s “indisputable sovereignty” — a claim of sovereign rights and jurisdiction and historic rights — over the entire South China Sea.
Despite its nonappearance at the hearings at The Hague, China is and remains a party to the arbitration and is bound under international law by any award rendered by the tribunal. China’s nonparticipation in the proceedings does not render the tribunal’s proceedings invalid.
DARELL ANN R. ARTATES
Public Diplomacy Officer
Embassy of the Philippines
Washington
===================================================
To the Editor:
Re “Playing Chicken in the South China Sea” (editorial, May 21):
China is exercising its legitimate rights by upholding the sovereignty of our islands in the South China Sea.
China’s sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and Xisha Islands was restored after World War II, in accordance with the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. But in the 1970s, certain countries started to illegally occupy some islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands.
Negotiation between states directly concerned is the only way to resolve the disputes. China has already signed border treaties through peaceful negotiations with 12 out of 14 land neighbors. The same practice should be adopted in the South China Sea.
While pursuing diplomatic resolution, China is exercising restraint. The construction activities on the islands and reefs are all for peaceful purposes and do not affect in any way freedom of navigation and overflight.
By not accepting or participating in the arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines, China is acting in accordance with international law.
Regarding the incident raised in the editorial, our information indicates that Chinese military aircraft followed from a safe distance and monitored the American plane carrying out close reconnaissance in Chinese coastal waters. Our operation was completely compliant with safety and professional standards. The attempt at intimidation by American military aircraft in the South China Sea, however, was not.
The South China Sea should not be turned into a geopolitical chessboard. We hope the United States, instead of flexing muscles, could play a responsible and constructive role to promote dialogue and negotiation.
ZHU HAIQUAN
Washington
The writer is press counselor and spokesman for the Chinese Embassy.
读者来信
中国驻美新闻参赞回应时报南海社论
2016年6月1日
致编辑：
兹就《在南海比试胆量》（5月21日社论）一文回应如下：
中国维护南海诸岛主权的行动属于行使合法权益。
二战后，根据《开罗宣言》(Cairo Declaration)和《波茨坦公告》(Potsdam Proclamation)，中国恢复了对南沙群岛和西沙群岛的主权。但在70年代，某些国家开始非法侵占南沙群岛的一些岛礁。
直接当事国举行谈判协商是解决争议的唯一途径。中国已同14个陆地邻国中的12个签订了边界条约。在南海问题上也应采取同样的做法。
在寻求外交解决途径的同时，中国一直保持克制。相关岛礁上的施工活动均出于和平目的，不会以任何形式影响航行和飞越自由。
中国不接受、不参加菲律宾单方面提起的仲裁符合国际法。
关于社论中提到的事件，我方掌握的信息显示，中国军机在跟踪和监视正在中国沿海水域进行抵近侦查的美方军机时保持了安全距离。我方的行动完全符合安全和专业标准。而美方军机企图在南海恐吓我方的行为，并不符合相关标准。
南海不应变成地缘政治棋盘。我们希望美国扮演一个负责任的角色，发挥建设性作用，推动对话和谈判，而不是炫耀自己的实力。
朱海权
华盛顿
作者是中国驻美国大使馆新闻参赞、发言人
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