Warships attached to a destroyer flotilla with the navy under the PLA Southern Theater Command perform replenishment-at-sea during a four-day-long realistic-combat training exercise in waters of the South China Sea recently. (Photo: eng.chinamil.com.cn)

The sovereignty and interests of China in the East China Sea and the South China Sea are undeniable, Chinese Embassy in Canada said on Tuesday when it slammed a statement by Global Affairs Canada, refuting it as a serious violation and distortion of the international law, which was intended to deliberately instigate disputes and sabotage regional stability. 

The embassy made the remarks in response to a statement issued on Sunday by the Global Affairs Canada on the South China Sea ruling. The Canadian department said that Canada "is particularly concerned by China's escalatory and destabilizing actions in the East and South China Seas, including, recently, off the Philippine coast, and by the militarization of disputed features and the use of naval, coast guard and maritime militia vessels to intimidate and threaten the ships of other states."

Denouncing the statement, a spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Canada said that the sovereignty and interests of China in the East and South China Seas are undeniable. 

The embassy said that the East and South China Seas have always maintained stability under the joint efforts from relevant countries, with absolutely no "regional tension" as it was claimed by a few countries including Canada. 

China firmly safeguards its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, and is willing to solve maritime disputes through negotiation. 

On the South China Sea issue, no country had ever raised objections to China's stance until the early 1970s. The "South China Sea Arbitration" violated the principle of "national consent," showed serious errors in the determination of facts and the application of the law, and its ruling is unlawful and invalid.

China's sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea are not affected by the ruling, and China does not accept any claims or actions based on the ruling, the embassy said. 

On the East China Sea issue, the Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated islands are an inalienable part of China. It is Japan that has been stirring up trouble and undermining regional stability.

The embassy also slammed the ill intentions of foreign forces on hyping up the issue. While China practices the utmost restraint in maintaining its rights, the US continues to send large-scale warships and fighter jets to the South China Sea on a regular basis to conduct military drills, illegally breaking into the airspace of China's territorial waters and adjacent seas. 

Who has been "increasing tensions"? Who has been "threatening other countries"? The truth is self-evident, and the international community knows it well, the embassy said. 

China's determination to uphold the legitimate rights of the East China Sea and the South China Sea is beyond doubt. No one should underestimate China's ability to defend its sovereignty, and not an inch of China's territory can be separated, the embassy stressed. 

The embassy urged Canada to stop provoking trouble on such issues, and to respect China's maritime sovereignty and rights. Canada should refrain from going further down the wrong path and cause damage to bilateral relations.

Global Times