Xinhua Commentary: Philippines' expansionist moves on China's Huangyan Dao futile, destabilizing

BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- In another reckless expansionist provocation, the Philippine government has delimited the so-called "baselines of the territorial sea" of China's Huangyan Dao, a move that flagrantly violates China's sovereignty and international law and is doomed to fail.

China firmly rejects this action as illegal, and null and void. The latest infringement represents a deliberate attempt by the Philippines to advance its expansionist agenda in the South China Sea, in lockstep with Manila's strategy this year of hyping the illegitimate "South China Sea arbitration award."

The "arbitration" was a political farce. Its so-called "award" is nothing but a worthless piece of paper having no binding force. China does not accept or recognize the "award," and opposes any claim or action based on it. Yet this invalid award has been continuously exploited by the Philippines to launch infringements and provocative acts against China's sovereignty and maritime rights.

In an attempt to enforce the "award," the Philippines enacted its so-called "Maritime Zones Act," which illegally includes China's Huangyan Dao and most of the islands and reefs of China's Nansha Qundao, and relevant waters into its maritime domain. For some time, the Philippines has been frequently making provocations in the waters of Huangyan Dao. These maneuvers trample on China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, heighten maritime tensions, and undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The Philippines' covetousness for Chinese territory in the South China Sea is by no means a recent development. Starting in the 1970s, the Philippines invaded and illegally occupied by force some islands and reefs of Nansha Qundao and raised illegal territorial claims.

In the late 1990s, Manila set its sights on Huangyan Dao. In May 1999, the Philippines illegally and deliberately "grounded" its military vessel BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) at Ren'ai Jiao, part of Nansha Qundao. More than five months later, it attempted to replicate this malicious ploy by intentionally "grounding" a warship at Huangyan Dao. As China saw through Manila's false narratives and exerted strong diplomatic pressure, the Philippine side withdrew the ship from Huangyan Dao. However, the LT-57 has remained at Ren'ai Jiao up till now, in blatant breach of Manila's earlier pledge to tow it away.

Huangyan Dao is China's inherent territory. China has indisputable sovereignty over it and its adjacent waters, and has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters. This well-established legal status is solidly backed by abundant historical evidence and rigorous legal foundations. In stark contrast, the territorial boundaries of the Philippines have been clearly defined by a series of international treaties, none of which include Huangyan Dao within its territorial scope. Consequently, Manila's territorial claims to Huangyan Dao are entirely groundless under international law.

On Saturday, China issued the management measures for the Huangyan Dao National Nature Reserve, which was approved in September last year. On the same day, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command conducted a joint naval-air training exercise, and the China Coast Guard organized drills on rights-protection law enforcement, near Huangyan Dao, demonstrating their capabilities to resolutely safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

The South China Sea should not be a stage for the Philippines' expansionist ambitions. Huangyan Dao has never been part of Philippine territory, and it never will be. China will resolutely respond to any acts of infringement and provocation targeting Huangyan Dao. ■