China cites UN law in asking US plane to leave disputed SCS

Defending its action in directing a US surveillance plane out of a disputed area in the South China Sea, China today invoked the UN's maritime law while asserting that freedom of navigation does not allow foreign military vessels to violate sovereignty of coastal states.
"Recently some people are hyping up freedom of navigation in the South China Sea (SCS)," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a briefing here, responding to questions on its defence building in the disputed region.
"In the UNCLOS you will find that the freedom of navigation and overflight definitely does not mean foreign military vessels can defy and impair the sovereignty and legitimate rights and safety of navigation of overflight of other countries," she said.

"The convention states explicitly that the passing foreign ships shall not be prejudicial to the peace and security of the coastal states," she said.
China quoting the UN Convention on the Law of Seas (UNCLOS) is significant as it had declined to join the lawsuit filed by the Philippines for arbitration under UNCLOS questioning Beijing's right over the area.
China has for long stated that its maritime dispute with a host of nations in the SCS including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei has not affected freedom of navigation.

India, US and several other countries have said that there should not be any impediment to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea as it is a busy international shipping route.

Last week, China's navy directed a US surveillance plane carrying a CNN journalist out of the airspace over a huge man-made islet it is building in the disputed Spratly islands which it calls the Nansha, claiming it as its military zone.
A CNN report said it was the first time that the Chinese' confrontation with foreign military aircraft was filmed raising questions about Beijing's assertion that freedom of navigation was not affected in the South China Sea.
Hua refuted US criticism that China is seeking to redraw its borders by resorting to massive construction in the South China Sea.
Yesterday, China also announced the construction of two light houses in the Spratlys which the Philippines and Vietnam also claim besides releasing a white paper announcing a broader role for its navy beyond its shores.

Hua said the US stand is misleading public opinion.
"China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha islands and adjacent waters," she said adding that Chinese claims are backed by history and have a valid historical and legal basis.
"There is no need for China to have to strengthen its stand through construction activities," she said. The major cause of concern in SCS is not China's construction which is within the sovereignty of China, she said.
"The tension in the SCS is because a certain country plays up the SCS issue and tries to cover up illegal occupation in SCS," she said apparently referring to one of the Philippines' ships which was grounded in the area.