Full Text: China Adheres to the Position of Settling Through Negotiation the Relevant Disputes Between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea

IV. The Philippines Has Repeatedly Taken Moves that Complicate the Relevant Disputes

i. The Philippines attempts to entrench its illegal occupation of some islands and reefs of China's Nansha Qundao

ii. The Philippines has increasingly intensified its infringement of China's maritime rights and interests

iii. The Philippines also has territorial pretensions on China's Huangyan Dao

iv. The Philippines' unilateral initiation of arbitration is an act of bad faith

V. China's Policy on the South China Sea Issue

i. On the territorial issues concerning Nansha Qundao

ii. On maritime delimitation in the South China Sea

iii. On the ways and means of dispute settlement

iv. On managing differences and engaging in practical maritime cooperation in the South China Sea

v. On freedom and safety of navigation in the South China Sea

vi. On jointly upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea

Introduction

1. Situated to the south of China's mainland, and connected by narrow straits and waterways with the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Indian Ocean to the west, the South China Sea is a semi-closed sea extending from northeast to southwest. To its north are the mainland and Taiwan Dao of China, to its south Kalimantan Island and Sumatra Island, to its east the Philippine Islands, and to its west the Indo-China Peninsula and the Malay Peninsula.

2. China's Nanhai Zhudao (the South China Sea Islands) consist of Dongsha Qundao (the Dongsha Islands), Xisha Qundao (the Xisha Islands), Zhongsha Qundao (the Zhongsha Islands) and Nansha Qundao (the Nansha Islands). These Islands include, among others, islands, reefs, shoals and cays of various numbers and sizes. Nansha Qundao is the largest in terms of both the number of islands and reefs and the geographical area.

3. The activities of the Chinese people in the South China Sea date back to over 2,000 years ago. China is the first to have discovered, named, and explored and exploited Nanhai Zhudao and relevant waters, and the first to have continuously, peacefully and effectively exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over them. China's sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea have been established in the long course of history, and are solidly grounded in history and law.