DND claims China is no victim of dispute, says it ‘twists the truth’

Several reefs in the Spratly Islands are those being disputed by the Philippines, China and other claimants Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. (Wikipedia Photo)

MANILA – The Department of National Defense (DND) scoffed at China for claiming to be the victim in the South China Sea territorial dispute.

“The Chinese government is really confused because of its incessant twisting of the truth and its efforts to mislead the good Chinese people,” DND spokesman Peter Galvez said in a Philippine Star report.

The DND pointed out that it was China which was accomplishing massive and rapid reclamation activities and infrastructure building in the contested waters.

“Can you call the giant taking away the fish of a small child a victim?” Galvez asked.

“The Chinese leadership is confused. They should listen to their peace-loving Chinese constituents who are calling for a stop to this bullying, which they all know is a diversion of their domestic issues,” he added.

Several reefs in the Spratly Islands were those being disputed by the Philippines, China and other claimants Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. These contested waters included the Mischief, Subi, Fiery Cross, Kennan, Johnson South, Gaven and Cuarteron Reefs.

Despite the Philippines’ calls for China to halt reclamation works in the disputed region, the latter continued to stand firm on its claims of having ‘indisputable sovereignty’ in the said region.

“The origin and crux of the disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea lie in the territorial sovereignty disputes caused by the Philippines’ illegal occupation of some islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Islands since the 1970s,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a statement.

China then vowed to never accept any United Nations’ court (UN) resolution on the arbitration case filed by the Philippines.

“China opposes any move by the Philippines to initiate and push forward the arbitral proceeding… On issues of territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, China will never accept any imposed solution or unilaterally resorting to a third-party settlement,” Hua said.

Meanwhile, the DND clarified that the minor repairs being conducted in the BRP Sierra Madre docked in the Second Thomas Shoal did not violate international law.

“You have to remember that the Sierra Madre is a vessel. Considering that it’s a vessel commissioned by the Navy, it is well within the Navy’s right to conduct simple repairs,” DND public affairs chief Arsenio Andolong said.

China had recently criticized the said repairs, calling the Philippines ‘the real rule breaker in the region.’ Chinese ships had also started blocking supply vessels to the Sierra Madre and had asked the Philippines to give up sovereignty in the Second Thomas Shoal.