China a staunch champion for peace - spokesman

MANILA, Philippines — Despite its perceived aggression, China is not violating an informal code of conduct discouraging provocative actions in the disputed South China Sea, a Chinese official said.

"China strictly abides by the Declaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea and remains a staunch champion for regional peace and stability," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei said in a press conference on Tuesday.

Created in 2002, the DOC is a non-binding agreement between China, the Philippines and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The code promotes a "peaceful, friendly and harmonious environment" in the South China Sea between ASEAN and China for the enhancement of regional stability and economic growth.

Following the reported reclamation efforts of China in the Mabini Reef, President Benigno Aquino III accused the Asian giant last month of violating the DOC due to its activities in the contested territories.

He said that under the fifth provision of the DOC, China and ASEAN countries should not occupy the uninhabited, contested territories.

The provision read: "The Parties undertake to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability including, among others, refraining from action of inhabiting on the presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features and to handle their differences in a constructive manner."

But despite this informal code, China has been insisting that it can conduct activities in the areas that it is claiming.

"What I want to emphasize is that China exercises indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands (Spratlys) and the adjacent waters," Hong said.

The Philippines' key allies has criticized China for its activities in the contested territories, with US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel saying that Beijing "has undertaken destabilising, unilateral actions" to assert its maritime claims. -Louis Bacani