The statement was in response to the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling on Tuesday that found that China had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) through its large-scale activities in the South China Sea.
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Taiwan believes that South China Sea disputes should be addressed peacefully through multilateral negotiations, Huang said, adding that the administration was willing to work with other countries to promote a safe and stable region on the basis of equal talks.
Senator Joni Ernst led a group of six Republican Senators in introducing a resolution calling on all parties to respect The Hague-based tribunal’s verdict that there was no evidence that China had historic rights to the waters or resources that fell within its “nine-dash line”.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen vowed on Wednesday (Jul 13) to defend the island’s sovereignty over Taiping Island before dispatching a frigate on a patrol mission to the South China Sea. “The world is watching now to see what these claimants will do”, state department spokesperson John Kirby said following the ruling.
China claims most of the energy-rich waters through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year.
Washington had carefully avoided taking a stance on the suit lodged by the Philippines against China’s maritime territorial claims, but when judgment came down, it urged both sides to abide by the result.
It also shows China’s political and diplomatic efforts to seek global support for its rejection of the arbitration case over the past few months have failed.
China: China’s Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said on Wednesday that, China has the right to set up an air defense zone in the South China Sea, but this will depend on the level of threats faced.
The tribunal classified some of China’s islands as rocks, but others as only “low-tide elevations”, which are submerged at high tide and therefore not entitled to 12 nautical miles of territorial sea.
The ministry said that sea lanes of communication passing through the South China Sea are critical for peace, stability, prosperity and development.
China reiterated that it does not accept the panel’s jurisdiction.
Prior to the tribunal’s final ruling, China strongly discredited the court’s authority, repeating that its ruling “amounts to nothing more than a piece of paper” and “makes no difference”. China “solemnly declares that the award is null and void and has no binding force”.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague accused China of interfering with the Philippines’ fishing and petroleum exploration, building artificial islands in the waters and failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing in the zone.
Some analysts speculate that China could try to escalate the dispute to punish Manila for pursuing the case and deter other claimants from doing the same.
It says China’s “nine-dash line”, which China uses to demarcate its territorial claims, is unlawful under the UNCLOS convention.
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If this statement is any indication, the Philippine government will not dramatically shift the country’s China policy by dropping the case and accepting bilateral negotiations with China without any conditions as some have suggested.
