US raising S. China Sea opposed

A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Monday said that the country firmly opposes the United States bringing up the South China Sea and that "the US' hype in the Security Council is entirely politically motivated".

"The US itself is not qualified to make irresponsible remarks on the issue of South China Sea. The US has been stirring up trouble out of nothing, arbitrarily sending advanced military vessels and aircraft into the South China Sea as provocations and publicly trying to drive a wedge into regional countries, especially countries concerned," said Dai Bing, charge d'affaires of China's permanent mission to the UN.

Dai made the comments at a high-level Security Council virtual open debate on maritime security Monday in response to comments by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on China regarding the South China Sea.

"I also wish to point out that the Security Council is not the right place to discuss the issue of the South China Sea. The US just mentioned the South China Sea issue, and China firmly opposes this act," Dai said.

At present, due to the joint efforts of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, the situation in the South China Sea remains generally stable, Dai pointed out. All countries enjoy freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law.

China and the ASEAN countries are committed to fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, Dai said, referring to an agreement that China signed with ASEAN in 2002 that aims to promote a peaceful and harmonious environment in the South China Sea.

The US does not join the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), but consider itself "a judge of the Convention, pointing fingers at other countries and interfering arbitrarily", Dai said. The US "has no credibility on maritime issues", he added.

"The South China Sea arbitrary tribunal violated the principle of state consent and tried ultra vires. There were obvious errors in the determination of facts and application of the law, and its award was invalid and without any binding force," Dai said.

He noted that China attaches great importance to maritime safety and has always advocated the concept of common maritime security for the purpose of mutually beneficial cooperation and a win-win outcome.

"We are committed to creating shared maritime security environment featuring equality, mutual trust, fairness and justice, joint participation and shared benefits," the envoy said.

He made four points regarding maritime security.

First, maritime security cooperation should uphold the concept of a maritime community with a shared future. Second, maritime security cooperation should follow international law. Third, maritime security cooperation should serve the economic and social development of coastal countries. Fourth, maritime security cooperation should continue to focus on combating piracy, Dai said.