China says will protect South China Sea sovereignty

Record ID: 165802

  • Title: China says will protect South China Sea sovereignty
  • Date: 24th January 2017
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JANUARY 24, 2017) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN HUA CHUNYING WALKING IN FOR REGULAR BRIEFING MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN HUA CHUNYING SAYING: "China's position on the South China Sea issue is clear and consistent. Our actions in the South China Sea are reasonable and fair. No matter what changes happen in other countries, what they say or what they want to do, China's resolve to protect its sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea will not change." MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN HUA CHUNYING SAYING: "We have always said that China resolutely recognises the freedom of navigation enjoyed by all countries in accordance with international law, but we oppose to the rights to navigate that are based on their own illusion. So we will resolutely support freedom of navigation as long as it's in line with international law." BRIEFING IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING
  • Embargoed: 7th February 2017 09:18
  • Keywords: China South China Sea foreign ministry sovereignty
  • Location: BEIJING, CHINA
  • City: BEIJING, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00160FW6KL
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: China's resolve to protect its sovereignty in the South China Sea will not change, the government said on Tuesday (January 24), after U.S. President Donald Trump's administration said it would defend "international" territory from being taken over by one country.
    Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China had "irrefutable" sovereignty over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, but that China was also dedicated to protecting freedom of navigation and talks with nations directly involved to find a peaceful solution.
    Hua urged the United States to speak and act cautiously to avoid harming the peace and stability of the South China Sea as it's not a party in the region.
    "China's position on South China Sea issue is clear and consistent. Our actions in the South China Sea are reasonable and fair. No matter what changes happen in other countries, what they say or what they want to do, China's resolve to protect its sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea will not change," Hua told a daily news briefing.
    "We have always said that China resolutely recognises the freedom of navigation enjoyed by all countries in accordance with international law, but we oppose to the rights to navigate that are based on their own illusion. So we will resolutely support freedom of navigation as long as it's in line with international law," she added.
    The comments at a briefing from White House spokesman Sean Spicer signalled a sharp departure from years of cautious U.S. handling of China's assertive pursuit of territorial claims in Asia, just days after Trump took office on Friday (January 20).
    Spicer said the U.S. was going to protest its interest in the region when asked if Trump agreed with comments by his secretary of state nominee, Rex Tillerson.
    On January 11, Tillerson said China should not be allowed access to islands it has built in the contested South China Sea.
    Tillerson's remarks at his Senate confirmation hearing prompted Chinese state media to say at the time that the United States would need to "wage war" to bar China's access to the islands where it has built military-length air strips and installed weapons systems.
    The former Exxon Mobil Corp chairman and chief executive did not elaborate on what might be done to deny China access to the islands.
    But analysts said his comments, like those of Spicer, suggested the possibility of U.S. military action, or even a naval blockade. Such action would risk an armed confrontation with China, an increasingly formidable nuclear-armed military power. It is also the world's second-largest economy and the target of Trump accusations it is stealing American jobs.
    Spicer declined to elaborate when asked how the United States could enforce such a move against China, except to say: "I think, as we develop further, we'll have more information on it."
    Tillerson narrowly won approval from a Senate committee on Monday (January 23) and is expected to win confirmation from the full Senate.
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