‘China committed to peacefully resolve territorial disputes’

MANILA, Philippines - China is a “peace loving” country without the “original sin” of the major powers that have condemned its reclamation activities in the South China Sea, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said on Thursday.

Zhao said China has long been engaging in dialogues, consultations and negotiations to peacefully resolve disputes with its neighbors, including the Philippines.

“This commitment is determined by the peace-loving genes flowing in the veins of the Chinese people,” Zhao said at the celebration of the 41st anniversary of the establishment of Philippines-China diplomatic relations and the 15th China-Philippines Friendship Day.

“If we take history as a mirror, we can not only see the past, but also see the future. China has always been a peace-loving country. China does not have the Original Sin of major powers,” he said. He was referring to the past colonial adventures of rich countries belonging to the Group of Seven (G7).

The G7 – which groups the United States, Japan, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Canada – earlier aired concern over rising tensions in the South China and East China Sea.

While not mentioning China, the group criticized its building of artificial islands in the South China Sea. 

The G7 also said freedom of navigation and overflight should be respected. The Philippines welcomed the G7 declaration.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea and a large part of the East China Sea.

Zhao emphasized that the door for negotiation and consultation with the Philippines is always open as “China has never lost sight of the larger picture and has been dealing with the South China Sea issue in a constructive and responsible way.”

He stressed China adheres to “neighborhood” diplomacy and is committed to peaceful approach to development.

“We hope that the new government of the Philippines can work with us towards the same   direction, properly deal with relevant disputes, put differences under effective management and control, and bring the bilateral relations back to the track of sound and comprehensive development to serve the interests of our two peoples,” he added.

Since the establishment of the new China, he said his country has surveyed and demarcated more than 20,000 kms boundary lines with 12 out of its 14 land neighbors, covering over 90 percent of China’s entire land border.

The ambassador stressed such “survey and demarcation were done based on historical facts and basic norms of international law through bilateral consultation and negotiation.”

He cited the maritime boundary of Beibu Bay clarified by Vietnam and China through negotiation and consultation.

“As a major country in the region, China knows full well the significance of preserving regional   peace and stability and the responsibility on its shoulder,” Zhao said.

With the Philippines as a close neighbor of China separated by sea, the ambassador said it is natural for the two countries to develop amicable and cooperative relations.

“As long as we treat each other with sincerity, follow the spirit of seeking common ground while shelving differences, there is no obstacle that we cannot surmount, nor dispute that we cannot resolve,” Zhao said.

The Philippines is the first country to question China’s nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea before an international court. China is believed to be bracing for an unfavorable ruling.

Beijing boycotted the proceedings at the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague.

China has repeatedly stated it “will neither accept nor participate in the arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines.”

Yesterday, incoming foreign affairs chief Perfecto Yasay Jr. made clear bilateral talks with China would not be pursued until the arbitral tribunal decides on the Philippine case.

“We should not pursue any bilateral talks at this time until we hear, or wait for, the outcome of the decision of the arbitral tribunal to come out,” Yasay said in an interview with ABS-CBN news channel.

Yasay’s remarks followed advice from a former foreign secretary and a US security expert for president-elect Rodrigo Duterte not to hold unconditional bilateral talks with China to try to resolve the dispute.  – With Aurea Calica