Beijing slams G7’s concerns in the South China Sea

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin REUTERS

MANILA, Philippines — The Foreign Ministry of China on Monday rejected the objections raised by foreign ministers of G7 where it opposed the East Asian nation’s actions in the South China Sea.

“We strongly deplore and firmly reject the manipulation of China-related issues at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting,” said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin.

“The comments from the meeting are a deliberate mischaracterization of the facts and truth, and a blatant interference in China’s internal affairs,” he added.

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Wengbin made the pronouncement after the G7 called out China’s continued “militarization, coercive and intimidation activities” in the South China Sea.

They also argued that Beijing’s expansive maritime claims to the strategic waterway have no legal basis.

The Philippines has been in a long-running maritime dispute against China after the latter country claimed that it owns the entirety of South China Sea which includes portions of the West Philippine Sea — or the so-called nine-dash line.

The Philippines challenged China’s claim through the International Permanent Court of Arbitration (IPCA) in The Hague in 2013, and won in 2016.

China, however, has consistently refused to recognize the ruling, ignoring a series of protests and demands made by the Philippine government for Chinese vessels to leave the WPS.