On July 31, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the Philippines' delimitation of the so-called "baselines of the territorial sea" of China's Huangyan Dao. On August 1, the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command conducted a joint naval-air training exercise in the territorial sea and airspace of China's Huangyan Dao and its surrounding areas. These measures and actions serve as a stern warning against the Philippines' current acts of infringement and provocation in the South China Sea, demonstrating China's firm resolve to safeguard sovereignty over Huangyan Dao and its maritime rights and interests.
Huangyan Dao is an inherent part of China's territory. From the markings on the star charts of the "Four Seas Survey" led by Yuan Dynasty astronomer Guo Shoujing, to the "Shitang" designation on the Zheng He Navigation Chart of the Ming Dynasty; from Minzhu Jiao marked on the Location Map of the South China Sea Islands published in 1947, to the official naming of Huangyan Dao by the Committee on Geographical Names of the People's Republic of China in 1983, this clear and unbroken historical record has long firmly established China's sovereignty over Huangyan Dao. China has indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Dao and its adjacent waters, which is fully supported by clear historical and legal grounds.
As is widely known, baselines of the territorial sea are the starting lines used by coastal states to determine the scope of their maritime jurisdiction on the basis of their own territory. Without territory, there can be no territorial sea, nor any legal or geographical basis for drawing territorial sea baselines. The Philippines' illegal territorial claim over China's Huangyan Dao has absolutely no basis in international law. The territory of the Philippines is defined by a series of international treaties, including the 1898 Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain, the 1900 Treaty between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain for Cession of Outlying Islands of the Philippines, and the 1930 Convention between His Majesty in Respect of the United Kingdom and the President of the United States regarding the Boundary between the State of North Borneo and the Philippine Archipelago. The Nansha Qundao and Huangyan Dao are not included within the territory of the Philippines as defined by any of these treaties. Since they have never been Philippine territory, how could there be any question of a territorial sea? The Philippines' delimitation of the so-called "baselines of the territorial sea" is an infringement disguised as a legal measure and yet another provocation aimed at undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea.
In pursuit of its own interests, the Philippines has disregarded historical facts and legal principles, repeatedly engaged in deliberate provocations and hype, and even chosen to serve as a pawn of external forces, continuously creating tensions at sea. The Philippines' illegal actions not only seriously infringe upon China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, but also pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability and the international order.
In fact, whether it is the Philippines' enactment of the so-called "Maritime Zones Act" and "Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act", or its delimitation of the so-called "baselines of the territorial sea" of Huangyan Dao, these groundless claims, which are based on fallacies and in serious violation of international law, will never succeed. Instead, they will only make the international community see more clearly the Philippines' true nature as a saboteur of peace and stability in the South China Sea and a troublemaker. The Philippines must clearly recognize that no sophistry can change China's sovereignty over Huangyan Dao, and no manipulation can shake China's firm resolve to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
The joint naval-air training exercise conducted by the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command around Huangyan Dao serve as a stern warning against the Philippines' acts of infringement and provocation. They constitute a justified and necessary measure by China to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The relevant actions are entirely legitimate, lawful, well-justified, proportionate and restrained, and are fully consistent with domestic law, international law and international practice.
China's ability to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea continues to grow. China remains committed to working with regional countries to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and jointly build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation. We once again urge the Philippines to immediately stop its maritime provocations and media hype. Otherwise, it shall bear full responsibility for all the consequences arising therefrom. The Chinese military remains on high alert at all times and will resolutely and effectively thwart any maritime provocation or attempts to stir up troubles, safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea with strong capabilities and firm resolve.