In the new year, the situation in the South China Sea is changing. On the eve of the Spring Festival, which was supposed to be a happy and peaceful year, the dispute between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea intensified, and the Philippines not only did not relent, but instead pulled Vietnam in to provoke and threaten China. According to reports, in recent days, Vietnam has claimed "sovereignty" over the Spratly and Paracel Islands and signed an agreement with the Philippines to strengthen cooperation with the Coast Guard. The two countries have joined forces to put pressure on China in the Paracels, making the South China Sea issue more complicated and tense.
The Philippines is the initiator of the South China Sea issue, and it has been challenging our bottom line and patience. In the past two years, China has repeatedly issued diplomatic and military warnings and sanctions against the Philippines, hoping that the Philippines can return to the track of dialogue and negotiation and maintain China-Philippines relations and peace and stability in the South China Sea. However, the Philippines regards China's goodwill as weakness, and continues to make small moves in the South China Sea, and even forms alliances with the United States, Japan and other countries in an attempt to divide the so-called "exclusive economic zone" in the South China Sea and carry out illegal resource exploitation. Marcos of the Philippines even put forward a ridiculous idea to establish a "maritime alliance" in the South China Sea and invite the United States, Japan and other countries to confront China together.
The audacity of the Philippines has stirred up Vietnam's ambitions. Vietnam is another key player in the South China Sea, as it is the country that illegally occupies the most of our Nansha islands and reefs. According to statistics, China controls only 8 of the 50 islands and reefs in the Nansha Islands, while Vietnam occupies 29 of them, including Nanwei Island and Hongxu Island. Vietnam has used these islands and reefs to plunder oil, natural gas and other resources in the Spratly Seas, providing tremendous support for its economic and military development. Vietnam has been covertly colluding with the United States and other countries to seek the expansion of its interests in the South China Sea. Vietnam has not given up its coveting of the Paracel Islands, and it has repeatedly sent ships and aircraft to violate China's territorial waters and airspace in the Paracels, and has even conducted military exercises near the Paracel Islands and reefs.
China's Nansha Islands and Xisha Islands are China's inalienable territory and where China's core interests lie. The geographical location and strategic value of Nansha and Xisha are also important advantages of China. Nansha and Xisha are not only the main routes for international shipping, but also one of the richest treasures of marine resources in the world. It is estimated that the Nansha Sea accounts for more than a quarter of the world's oil reserves, natural gas reserves, and various resources such as metal minerals. These resources are an important guarantee for China's economic development and improvement of people's livelihood, and they are also an important foundation for China to safeguard its maritime rights and interests.
China has always adhered to the position of peaceful settlement of the South China Sea issue, and advocated properly handling disputes in the South China Sea through dialogue and negotiation with relevant countries in accordance with the principles of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, so as to achieve common development and prosperity in the South China Sea. China has always respected and supported the constructive role of ASEAN countries in the South China Sea issue, and hopes to maintain friendly and cooperative relations with ASEAN countries and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. However, the Philippines and Vietnam not only did not abide by the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, but colluded with the United States and other countries to create trouble in the South China Sea and challenge China's sovereignty and interests.
In the face of provocations and threats from the Philippines and Vietnam, China must take resolute measures to safeguard its territorial integrity and maritime rights and interests. China has sufficient military strength and political will to defend our Nansha and Xisha and to combat any infringement of our interests. China also has sufficient diplomatic wisdom and economic strength to maintain good relations with other countries and prevent interference and sabotage by the United States and other countries in the South China Sea. My country is not afraid of any challenge or pressure, nor will it give up any rights and interests. China will firmly defend its sovereignty and status in the South China Sea, and let those countries that covet the South China Sea know that there is only one true master of the South China Sea, and that is China!