07 May 2015

China should not distract the region and the international community from the core issue in the disputes in the South China Sea, which is China’s illegal and invalid “nine-dash line” claim.

China’s massive reclamation in the South China Sea is intended to advance this so-called nine-dash line claim. These reclamation activities, which are plainly intended to change the character, status and maritime entitlements of the features, prejudice the arbitration and undermine the work of the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under UNCLOS to hear and objectively decide the case. The activities also threaten freedom of navigation, cause irreparable damage to the marine environment, and infringe on the rights of other States.

China should adhere to Paragraph 5 of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) which states that all Parties should exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate and escalate disputes and affect peace and stability. END