China praises Mozambique, Burundi, Slovenia for support on South China Sea

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Highlights:

China claims almost all of the energy-rich South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of maritime trade passes each year. The Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan have overlapping claims.

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China praises Mozambique, Burundi, Slovenia for support on South China Sea

8:22 CAT | 20 May 2016

Chinese dredging vessels are purportedly seen in the waters around Mischief Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea in this still image from video taken by a P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft provided by the United States Navy May 21, 2015. REUTERS/U.S. Navy/Handout via Reuters

U.S. Navy handout via Reuters / Chinese dredging vessels are purportedly seen in the waters around Mischief Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea in this still image from video taken by a P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft provided by the United States Navy May 21, 2015.

China appreciates the support of the governments of Mozambique, Burundi and Slovenia on its stance on the South China Sea issue, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said Thursday.

The three governments back China’s efforts to resolve territorial and maritime disputes with directly involved countries through consultation and negotiation, Hong said at a regular news briefing.

“Burundi calls for correct understanding of China’s exclusion of compulsory procedures to resolve the disputes, while Slovenia fully supports China’s position on international arbitration of the issue,” the spokesperson said.

He said the three governments’ positions “help safeguard international fairness and justice.”

Some 40 countries have expressed support for China’s stance as an international tribunal in The Hague is due to announce its decision in May or June for an arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China over maritime disputes.

China has refused to accept or participate in the arbitration. It declared in 2006 it would exclude compulsory arbitration on disputes concerning maritime delimitation, a right guaranteed under Article 298 of the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea.

China advocates a dual-track approach to solving the disputes. The directly concerned states should negotiate in line with international law as China and ASEAN countries work together to maintain regional peace and stability.

Source: Xinhua