Some individuals staged a so-called commemoration of “West Philippine Sea Victory Day” in Cebu City. In response, the Chinese Consulate General in Cebu issues the following statement:

Volume is not validity. Loud rhetoric cannot substitute for legal truth. Land territorial issues are not subject to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). With the optional exceptions declaration China made in 2006 pursuant to Article 298 of the Convention, maritime delimitation disputes have been excluded from the compulsory dispute settlement procedures under UNCLOS. 

China’s position on the “South China Sea arbitration” has been clear, consistent and firm. The “arbitration” violates fundamental principles of international law, including state consent and pacta sunt servanda, contravenes UNCLOS itself, and, still more importantly, runs counter to the basic facts of the South China Sea. The so-called “award” is nothing but a worthless piece of paper that is illegal, null and void, and has no binding force. China does not accept or recognize the “award,” and opposes and does not accept any claim or action based on it. China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea shall not be affected by the “award” under any circumstances.

China has sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao (the South China Sea Islands), consisting of Dongsha Qundao (the Dongsha Islands), Xisha Qundao (the Xisha Islands), Zhongsha Qundao (the Zhongsha Islands) and Nansha Qundao (the Nansha Islands); China has internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, based on Nanhai Zhudao; China has historic rights in the South China Sea. China’s sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and the relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea have been established in the long course of history. As early as 200 B.C., in the Western Han Dynasty, the Chinese people sailed in the South China Sea and, through long-term practice, discovered Nanhai Zhudao. China is the first to have continuously, peacefully and effectively exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over Nanhai Zhudao and relevant waters. Nanhai Zhudao have long been widely recognized by the international community as part of China’s territory.

China does not accept any imposed solution with respect to territorial issues and maritime delimitation disputes. China will continue to uphold the fundamental principles of international law and basic norms of international relations as affirmed by the United Nations Charter, including respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity and the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes. China remains committed to resolving the relevant disputes in the South China Sea through negotiation and consultation with countries directly concerned, on the basis of respecting historical facts and in accordance with international law, so as to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

For the past 10 years, the “award” has not only failed to resolve the maritime issues between China and the Philippines, but instead has become a tool for the Philippines to expand its territorial and maritime claims,  exacerbated tensions in the region and provided a pretext for external forces to intervene and destabilize the South China Sea. It has become a stumbling block to China-Philippines relations and to peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The continued playing up of the illegal “award”is inconsistent with the trend of peace and stability in the region, and goes against the aspirations of countries and people in the region for development and prosperity. Such attempts are doomed to fail.

Cebu has enjoyed long-standing friendly relations with China. The Chinese Consulate General in Cebu has always been dedicated to promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and Cebu. It is deeply regrettable that certain individuals have chosen to move in the opposite direction. We hope that Cebuanos and Filipino people of goodwill will see through this farcical spectacle and recognize that it serves no one except those who profit from sowing division.