The separatist forces in China's Taiwan Region have proved themselves traitors to the entire Chinese nation by selling the national interests to external forces, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.
Mao made the comments in response to remarks made by Taiwan authorities over the so-called maritime boundary delimitation talks between Japan and the Philippines.
During the Philippine president's visit to Japan, the two sides issued a joint statement last Thursday announcing the launch of talks on the so-called delimitation of their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves.
Mao stressed that such a move violates international laws and infringes China's maritime interests.
"Regarding Japan and the Philippines' announcement of launching the maritime boundary delimitation negotiations, China has already clarified its position. I would like to reiterate that the area the two countries announced they will delimit is east of China's Taiwan island. According to China's domestic law and international law, including UNCLOS, China has an exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in this area. According to UNCLOS, the limits of the exclusive economic zones and continental shelves between states with opposite or adjacent coastlines should be delimited by agreement between the states concerned, based on the principle of fairness. Negotiations concerning the delimitation of the waters east of Taiwan must involve China. Japan and the Philippines' so-called maritime delimitation talks constitute a severe violation of China's maritime rights and interests, UNCLOS, and other international law and basic norms governing international relations. China strongly opposes such a move," Mao said.
Mao stressed that by affirming the move of Japan and the Philippines, and questioning China's sovereignty over the relevant waters, the Taiwan separatist forces have proved themselves to be traitors to the nation.
"Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China. Safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights is the common responsibility of all Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. The DPP authorities, in pursuit of their own political gains, have not hesitated to betray the overall interests of the Chinese nation, showing utter disregard for their roots and lacking any moral bottom line. This once again exposes that the separatist forces in Taiwan have completely lost their national stance and have become utter traitors to the nation, destined to be spurned by compatriots on both sides of the Strait and subject to historical reckoning," said the spokeswoman.
Taiwan authorities betray Chinese nation by selling out national interests: spokeswoman
