China's Position on the Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines

3. It is China's sincere wish that the disputes between China and the Philippines will be settled through bilateral negotiations.

China has long exercised sovereignty over the Nansha Islands. After the Second World War, China recovered the Nansha Islands occupied by Japanese aggressors in 1946 and took a series of steps to confirm and reaffirm its sovereignty over the Nansha Islands. At that time, the Philippines, an independent country already, made no objection to China's moves. It was only after oil reserves were discovered in the 1970s in the waters surrounding the Nansha Islands that the Philippines began to claim sovereignty over these islands and sent troops to occupy some of the islands and reefs. The Chinese side has for many times made diplomatic representations with the Philippine side over its behavior and demanded that the Philippines stop infringing upon China's sovereignty and jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, acting in the larger interest of China-Philippines relations and peace and stability in Southeast Asia, and proceeding from China's consistent approach in handling such issues, China has adhered to resolving its disputes with the Philippines through negotiations. Starting from the 1970s, the two sides have exchanged views many times on relevant disputes and made some positive progress. In 1988, in his meeting with then Philippine President Corazon Aquino, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping put forward the constructive approach of pursuing "joint development " in handling the disputes, which received positive response from the Philippine leader. The two sides have also made some headway in this respect and carried out some maritime cooperation, which was widely welcomed and applauded internationally.

To put the negotiations and consultations between China and the Philippines on a more institutional basis, China officially proposed to the Philippine side establishment of a "regular consultation mechanism on maritime issues" in 2010. The Philippine side indicated that it would study the proposal, but has since given no reply. In 2012, China proposed that the "CBM Working Group" established in 1999 be restarted, but has not received any response from the Philippine side. The Chinese side has found it very hard to understand why the Philippine side should unilaterally shut the door to negotiations and consultations.

I would like to emphasize that China's stance of neither accepting nor participating in the arbitration does not change and will not change. Forcing the arbitration is not conducive to the settlement of the disputes on the South China Sea between China and the Philippines, it will not change the fact that China has sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, nor will it shake China's will and resolve to safeguard its national sovereignty. We hope that the Philippine side will correct its mistake and come back to the right track of resolving the disputes through bilateral negotiations.