Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jinchao said that the lingering dispute over claims on the oil-rich South China Sea was only fanned by false reports.
“It is unfortunate that this issue, the current dispute about the area, everything, was founded by a bad rumor,” Jinchao told reporters Thursday.
Jinchao was referring to previous statements from the Department of Foreign affairs (DFA) and the Armed Forces that foreign fighter jets were sighted near the disputed Spratly Islands.
The ambassador also dismissed as a “bad rumor” the DFA’s claims of the presence of a China Marine Surveillance vessel and some Chinese navy ships at the vicinity the Amy Douglas Bank, which is within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone.
“That is [a] bad rumor because we have no intention of occupying one of the islands,” Jinchao added.
But he justified the presence of China’s patrol teams in the vast South China Sea, saying they “have every right to exercise jurisdiction over an area where we claim sovereignty” as part of their “normal exercises.”
Apart from China and the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam also claim parts of the South China Sea.
To date, the Philippines has accused China of at least six incidents of intrusions. A diplomatic protest has since been filed before the United Nations.
While it is saying it is “ready to talk” with other claimants to reach a “feasible and effective way to relax the possible tension,” China stands firm on their ownership of the disputed parts of the South China Sea.
“China is firm on its territorial claims,” said Jinchao. He also added, “We will never use force unless we are attacked one way or another.”
In a separate statement, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Philippines is “committed to a multilateral approach to the resolution of claims in the Spratlys.”
“The Philippines believes that its territorial rights must be asserted with firmness, its position reiterated at every appropriate opportunity,” Lacierda said.
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