The United States is the primary instigator behind South China Sea disputes, despite the Philippines being the active violator of China's legitimate rights in the region, according to Wu Shicun, chairman of the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance.
The center, a Chinese ocean policy think tank dedicated to peaceful use and sustainable development of the ocean, released a report on Thursday called 'Critique of the South China Sea Arbitration Award', co-authored with the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, and the Chinese Society of International Law.
The report reaffirms China's firm opposition to the "South China Sea arbitration award," saying it severely damages the international legal order and maritime governance.
The report explores the political background to the formation of the arbitration tribunal and the historical errors of its ruling, and calls for other relevant parties to help resolve the disputes through negotiation and consultation, Wu said.
"Since President Marcos took office, the Philippines has repeatedly brought up the 'arbitration award', using it as a so-called 'basis' to attack or even smear the China Coast Guard's normal operations to protect China's rights on the Ren'ai Jiao and the Huangyan Island. The 'Critique of the South China Sea Arbitration Award' report once again reveals the major errors and flaws of the 'arbitration award' in legal interpretation and application, fact finding, as well as evidence admission. It also clarifies that China not accepting any claim or action arising from the 'award' is a just and legitimate move to safeguard its rights and interests, maintain maritime peace and stability, and safeguard international rule of law," he said.
The Philippines, supported by the United States, has been fabricating an absurd and illogical narrative over recent years that claims "the award is international law" and "non-enforcement of the award is a violation of international law", while using the anniversary of the arbitration award every year to publicly demand China accept and enforce the so-called "award", said Wu.
He said the Philippines not only breaks promises, changes the status quo and harbors intentions to occupy the Ren'ai Jiao permanently, but it also tries to return to the Huangyan Island and, from time to time, even claims to be initiating another round of international arbitration.
Within this context, it is necessary to completely refute the arbitration award de jure, Wu said.
Over the last two years, the Philippine government has destroyed some of the good practices built up recently between China and the Philippines in properly handling the South China Sea issue and managing maritime differences. It has also intensified its use of the so-called "arbitration award" to change the status quo, consolidate illegal gains, and expand the scope of infringement.
Wu said the report highlighted that the United States is behind the Philippines' irresponsible position.
"The statement made by then-U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo on July 13, 2020, which was the fourth anniversary of the 'arbitration award', was a landmark event. It showed that the United States no longer pursued so-called 'neutrality', but instead completely took sides on the South China Sea issue and will support whoever confronts China, turns against China, and violates China's rights and claims on the South China Sea issue. Therefore, when the Marcos administration came to power, the U.S. needed the Philippines to continue to play the role of "spoiler" in the South China Sea and creat unstable factors there to give the U.S. an excuse to protect the Philippines as an ally. So it seems like it is the Philippines who meddles in the South China Sea, but in fact the primary factor is the United States," Wu said.
U.S. is main instigator behind South China Sea disputes: expert
