China’s firm stance on Ren’ai Jiao highlighted in press conference by Foreign Ministry spokesperson

In a press conference held on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning addressed the ongoing situation at Ren’ai Jiao.

In a press conference held on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning addressed the ongoing situation at Ren’ai Jiao, part of China’s Nansha Qundao. The press conference, covered by Xinhua, provided a detailed account of China’s position and recent developments concerning Ren’ai Jiao.

Mao Ning began by reiterating that Ren’ai Jiao is an integral part of China’s Nansha Qundao, and China has full sovereignty over it and the adjacent waters. She highlighted that the Philippines’ grounding of a warship at Ren’ai Jiao for decades constitutes a violation of China’s sovereignty and contravenes the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), particularly Article 5. This article stipulates that parties should refrain from inhabiting uninhabited islands and reefs, a point Mao underscored as central to China’s position.

With three key points, the spokesperson outlined China’s principled stance on managing the current situation at Ren’ai Jiao. Firstly, China demands that the Philippines remove the grounded warship and restore Ren’ai Jiao to its previous uninhabited state, devoid of personnel or facilities. Secondly, Mao stated that while the warship remains, China is willing to allow the Philippines to send living necessities to personnel on the warship in a humanitarian spirit. Thirdly, Mao emphasized that China would not tolerate any attempts by the Philippines to send large amounts of construction materials to the warship to build fixed facilities or a permanent outpost. She asserted that such actions would be firmly opposed by China, which would act by the law and regulations to uphold its sovereignty and the sanctity of the DOC.

Mao Ning also highlighted that recent consultations between China and the Philippines have led to a provisional arrangement for humanitarian resupply of living necessities. This agreement reflects both nations’ efforts to jointly manage maritime differences and work towards de-escalation in the South China Sea.

The press conference underscored China’s commitment to sovereignty claims and willingness to engage in dialogue to manage disputes. The detailed articulation of China’s stance by Mao Ning marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to address the complex interplay of sovereignty, international law, and regional stability in the South China Sea.