Unof?cial translation 1

No. (13) 

The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of
the Philippines presents its compliments to the Department of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines and, with reference to the
latter?s Note Verbale No. 13-02] 1 dated 22 January 2013, has the honor to
state the following:

The Position of China on the South China Sea issues has been
consistent and clear. China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nanhai
Islands and their adjacent waters. At the core of the disputes between
China and the Philippines in the South China Sea are the territorial
disputes over some islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands. The two
countries also have overlapping jurisdictional claims over parts of the
maritime area in the South China Sea. The direct cause of these disputes
has been the illegal occupation by the Philippines of some islands and
reefs ol? China's Nansha Islands. China has been firmly opposed to such
illegal occupation.

The territorial disputes between China and the Philippines are still
pending and unresolved, but both sides have agreed to settle the disputes
through bilateral negotiations. By initiating arbitration proceedings, the
Philippines runs counter to the agreement between the two countries, and
also contravenes the principles and spirit of the Declaration on the
Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and particularly ?to
resolve their territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful
friendly consultations and negotiations by sovereign
states directly concerned".

The Noti?cation and Statement of Claim (hereinafter referred to as
"Noti?cation") attached to Note Verbale No. 13-0211 contains grave
errors both in fact and in law, and includes many false accusations against
China. At some places, the Noti?cation even seriously violates the "One
China? principle, undermining the political foundation of? the bilateral
relations between China and the Philippines. China firmly Opposes to this.

China therefore rejects and returns the Philippines' Note Verbal No.
13?02 11 and the attached Notification.

China has been committed to resolving disputes peacefully through
bilateral negotiation, and has made every effort to maintain stability and
to promote regional cooperation in the South China Sea. In March 2010,
China made a formal proposal to the Philippines on establishing a
bilateral regular consultation mechanism on maritime issues, and China
has also repeatedly proposed to the Philippines to resume the operation of
the Con?dence Building Measures Mechanism (CBMs) as established
between the two countries. The Philippines has failed to respond to the
proposals mentioned above. China hopes that the Philippines will revert
to the right track of settling the disputes through bilateral negotiations.

The Embassy of the People's Republic of China avails itself of this
opportunity to renew to the Department of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of the Philippines the assurances of its highest consideration.

Makati, 19 February 2013

Department ofForeign Affairs
Republic of the Philippines
Pasay City, Manila

 

 

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