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Beijing’s South China Sea says it “seriously undermines” the rule of law South China Sea News

China’s activities in the South China Sea, including “historic claims” in almost every part of its core trade route, “severely undermine the rule of law” in the oceans and universally accepted provisions in international law, the U.S. concluded in a statement. report.

The US State Department said in a report on Wednesday that the general conclusion of Beijing’s claims was that it “illegally claims sovereignty over the South China Sea or some form of exclusive authority.”

“Therefore, the United States and many other states have rejected these claims in favor of an international maritime order based on rules in the South China Sea and around the world.”

A report called Limits in the Seas said it had “no substance content” in China Proclamation of “historic rights.” The 3.5 million square km (1.35 million sq mi) sea is “poor because of its vagueness.”

“The RPC has stated that its historical rights are protected by‘ international law ’, but has not provided any legal justification for this claim,” the report said, referring to the country under its official name, the People’s Republic of China (PRC). ).

China refers to its so-called “nine lines” to claim its rights throughout the South China Sea.

An international tribunal in The Hague has ruled that Beijing has no “legal basis” under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which the Philippines also claims is part of the South China Sea. Action against Beijing.

Washington is stepping up its rhetoric and diplomatic efforts to challenge Beijing on a number of issues, including He reported the mass arrest of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang as well as enacting Hong Kong’s national security law since Joe Biden took office as president a year ago.

He has also sent several aircraft carriers and battleships to confirm “freedom of navigation” It has strengthened the rights of the South China Sea, as well as alliances with other regional powers, such as India, Japan and Australia. Indo-Pacific Quad Group.

Opponents’ claims

In addition to China, some parts of the South China Sea are also claimed by Taiwan, as well as neighboring countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia.

In recent years, China has increased its military presence by building artificial islands and air bases in the region. where he has installed missile systems and other equipment.

They have deployed a so-called Chinese naval militia, accusing the Philippine fishermen and fishermen of “harassment”. “strength” Parts of the sea in the exclusive economic zone of Manila. In October, Malaysia has accused China of “entering” its seas.

These activities have turned the region’s resource-rich waters into potential points, threatening to break $ 5 trillion in world trade.

The latest State Department report also called into question China’s claims of “sovereignty” over more than 100 features of the South China Sea that are submerged at high tide.

“These claims are inconsistent with international law, which states that these characteristics are not subject to a claim to legal sovereignty or capable of creating maritime areas such as the territorial sea,” the report says.

The Chinese ships, believed to be manned by Chinese naval militia personnel, were spotted at Whitsun Reef in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines in April 2021. [Philippine Coast Guard via Reuters].

China is using the claims of sovereignty over these features to claim the right to draw or draw, “correct bases” and claim territorial waters.

The United States has said that none of the four “island groups” claimed by China have met the geographical criteria for using the correct basis under the Convention.

“There is no separate body of conventional international law that can include the entire group of islands that support the PRC’s position on a straightforward basis,” the report says.

It also “does not allow international law” to claim claims in favor of China’s inland waters, territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf “based on the treatment of each South China Sea island group as a whole.”

“In the claimed marine areas, the RPC also makes a number of jurisdictional claims that do not comply with international law,” the report said.

China has not yet responded to the report, but has repeatedly rejected the 2016 Hague ruling to dismiss the “nine dash”, stressing “historic rights” over the South China Sea.

In the past, he said his military presence in the South China Sea was “completely self-defense” and that he had no intention of “seeking hegemony” or “establishing spheres of influence” in the region.

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