CHINA-SOUTH CHINA SEA: SHANGRI-LA DIALOGUE

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying on June 4, 2017, expressed strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to "irresponsible remarks" made by the US Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada on the South China Sea and Taiwan issues during the Shangri-La Dialogue. Hua Chunying stressed that "China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha islands and their adjacent waters" and that "China has always been committed to peacefully solving disputes through consultation and negotiation with countries directly concerned". She added that "China has always respected and maintained the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea in accordance with international law. Meanwhile, China firmly opposes certain countries' sabre-rattling in the region under the excuse of that freedom, which threatens China's sovereignty and security." He also said "China's construction projects on the Nansha islands are aimed at improving working and living conditions of staff there". She said necessary defense facilities built in a sovereign state's territory represents its self-protection and self-defense rights, and has nothing to do with the so-called "militarization". Commenting on the Diaoyu Island issue, Hua Chunying said the island and its adjacent islets have been part of China since ancient times and called Japan's remarks "running counter to the fact" and "not worth mentioning". 







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