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China urges Philippines to stop provocations in South China Sea

Xinhua, May 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

The foreign ministry criticized the Philippine's invitation to journalists to visit a Chinese island in the South China Sea, saying their attempt at occupation is futile.

"What happens lays bare that the Philippines is the real rule-breaker and trouble-maker. Its attempt to seize maritime features of China' s Nansha Islands is futile," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing.

Hua's comments came a day after the Filipino military invited foreign journalists to visit Zhongye Island, part of the Nansha Islands, by military plane on Monday.

"China holds indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands including Zhongye Island," Hua said.

According to the international treaties which define the territory of the Philippines, Zhongye Island and other maritime features in the Nansha Islands have never been part of the Philippines, she said.

"China is opposed to the Philippines' occupation of some maritime features of China' s Nansha Islands by force, and stays resolute in safeguarding territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," Hua said.

The Philippines recurrently goes against the international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), stirs up troubles concerning the South China Sea issue and keeps taking provocative actions which undermine mutual trust among all parties and regional peace and stability, she said.

She urged the Philippines to respect China' s territorial sovereignty, abide by relevant international law and the DOC, withdraw all personnel and facilities from the illegally occupied maritime features of China' s Nansha Islands, and put an end to all provocations that infringe upon China' s sovereignty and rights and interests or affect regional peace and stability. Endi