BEIJING: Huangyan Dao is China’s inherent territory, which is beyond the limits of Philippine territory, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Friday.
China has indisputable sovereignty over the island and its adjacent waters. China exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction over Huangyan Dao in a continuous, peaceful and effective manner, Wang told a regular press briefing when asked to comment on the Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Año’s recent remarks related to Huangyan Dao.
The territory of the Philippines is defined by a series of international treaties, including the 1898 Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain, the 1900 Treaty between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain for Cession of Outlying Islands of the Philippines, and the 1930 Convention between His Majesty in Respect of the United Kingdom and the President of the United States regarding the Boundary between the State of North Borneo and the Philippine Archipelago, Wang said.
“Huangyan Dao is beyond the limits of Philippine territory,” said the spokesperson. Wang said it is inconsistent with international law for the Philippines to claim sovereignty over Huangyan Dao on the grounds of its comparative proximity to Philippine territory, or claim sovereign rights and jurisdiction on the grounds that Huangyan Dao is within the Philippine exclusive economic zone.
Wang noted that the South China Sea arbitration is completely a political manipulation by the Philippines in order to gain illegal interests.
“The award is illegal, null and void. China does not accept or recognize it, and will never accept any claim or action based on the award. China’s sovereignty rights and interests in the South China Sea shall under no circumstances be affected by the illegal award,” Wang said. –Agencies
