China on Monday denounced Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario’s call for other countries to take a stand regarding the South China Sea, adding that China’s stance on safeguarding its territory and sovereignty is “clear” and “firm.”
Del Rosario, in a Sunday message sent to reporters, urged other countries to “consider what China is endeavoring to do” on the Huangyan Island in the South China Sea.
The Philippines has claimed sovereignty over the island, which is part of Chinese territory.
“The Huangyan Island concerns China’s sovereignty and the stance of the Chinese government on safeguarding its territory and sovereignty is clear and firm,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said at a regular press briefing.
In the message, del Rosario called for other countries to “take a stand” on China’s actions regarding the South China Sea.
“It will only complicate and scale up the issue to ask other countries to take sides over sovereignty issues,” Liu said, adding that such a move will not help to properly settle the current situation.
On April 10, twelve Chinese fishing boats were harassed on by a Philippine Navy gunboat while taking refuge from harsh weather in a lagoon near the Huangyan Island. Two Chinese Marine Surveillance ships conducting routine patrols in the area later came to the fishermen’s rescue.
问：菲律宾外长德尔罗萨里奥22日称，应思考中国在黄岩岛问题上的行动意图，他呼吁他国针对中国在南海问题上的做法表明立场。中方对此有何评论？
答：黄岩岛是中国固有领土，中国政府维护领土主权的立场是明确的、坚定的。让其他国家在主权问题上选边站队，只会使问题复杂化，将事态扩大化，丝毫无助于当前事态的妥善解决。
Xinhua