China accuses Philippines of misinterpreting international law

China has ample historical and jurisprudential evidence supporting the sovereignty over the Huangyan Island, which is called as Scarborough Shoal by Philippines, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Weimin told a media briefing here.

Reacting to Manila's allegations that Beijing's stand on the shoal has threatened the international navigation he said China's stand is in total compliance with the international law of the seas.

"The Philippines had earlier said that the Huangyan Island is outside its territory. However, now it is misinterpreting the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas to undermine China's real claim," he said.

There has never been a problem of freedom of navigation in SCS. China has been exercising and maintaining its territorial sovereignty over the Huangyan Island for a long time. This has not and is unlikely to affect the freedom of navigation in SCS, he said.

Liu said the current stand off in which the two countries deployed warships has eased as both countries resolved to sort out the problem through diplomatic means.

"The situation is relaxed. Chinese Government will continue to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and ask the Philippines side to take China's concern seriously and do not take actions to further complicate the situation," he said.PTI KJV