China says military exercises in South China Sea respond to Philippine provocations

A Chinese defense spokesperson said on Friday that Chinese military exercises and law enforcement training around Huangyan Dao and its surrounding waters stand as a serious warning against violations and provocations by the Philippines.

Chen Xi, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media query about Chinese military exercises and law enforcement training in the territorial waters and airspace of Huangyan Dao as well as its surrounding areas, after the Philippines deposited its so-called official nautical chart of Huangyan Dao and its surrounding maritime zones with the UN.

"Huangyan Dao is China's inherent territory. China has continuously, peacefully and effectively exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over Huangyan Dao, and is the only country entitled by international law to declare the baselines of the territorial sea of Huangyan Dao. Relevant actions of the Philippine side seriously violated China's territorial sovereignty, international law and the basic norms of international relations. They are illegal, null and void," Chen said.

"Our exercises stand as a serious warning against violations and provocations by the Philippine side. These are necessary and legitimate measures to safeguard our sovereignty over Huangyan Dao and our rights and interests," he noted.

"In fact, since its independence in 1946, the Philippines has expanded its claims of territory and jurisdictional waters through domestic legislation while claiming following international law. Its behavior has led to wide wariness and dissatisfaction as well as resolute opposition from other littoral countries to the South China Sea," said the Chinese defense ministry spokesman.

"We urge the Philippine side to immediately stop its illegitimate acts violating China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and stop its provocations and propaganda. The Chinese military will take firm and effective countermeasures against any provocative attempts to make waves and stir up troubles in the South China Sea," Chen said.

The PLA Southern Theater Command conducted a joint naval-air training exercise in the territorial sea and airspace of Huangyan Dao and its surrounding areas on Aug 1, to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

China says military exercises in South China Sea respond to Philippine provocations

The ruling authorities of Japan should listen to the voice of the people and stop playing with fire on nuclear-related issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian said on Friday, in commenting on the results of a recent public opinion survey in Japan.

The results of the survey conducted by the Japan Association for Public Opinion Research show that 76 percent of people in Japan support upholding the country’s three non-nuclear principles of not producing, possessing or allowing nuclear weapons on its territory. The survey also found that 77 percent believe Japan should not pursue nuclear sharing, an arrangement under which the United States would station nuclear weapons in Japan.

In a statement posted on the official website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Lin said that the fact that nearly 80 percent of people in Japan support upholding the three non-nuclear principles and oppose nuclear sharing speaks to the Japanese public's overwhelming and clear-cut opposition to possessing nuclear weapons. It also reflects how much the Japanese public cherishes peace and prosperity which has not come easily.

Recent moves by those running the Japanese government to clamor for “nuclear option” and seek to violate the three non-nuclear principles only reveal the inflating political and military ambitions of the Japanese right-wing forces, who are gambling with the future of the over 100 million Japanese people, Lin said.

The will of the people must not be defied. The Japanese authorities should listen to the call of the people, fulfill its obligation under international law of not accepting, producing, possessing or proliferating nuclear weapons, stop playing with fire on the issue of nuclear weapons, and not repeat the wrong path of miscalculating historical trend and acting against the people’s will for peace, said the spokesman.

Chinese FM spokesman urges Japanese authorities to take caution on nuclear issue