2016年CRI China issues white paper on South China Sea Islands

 

The white paper reaffirms that China's sovereignty over the South China Sea and its islands have been established in the long course of history, and are solidly grounded in history and law.

Chinese vice¹ foreign minister Liu Zhenmin introduced the white paper at a news conference in Beijing, and says China's claim to the islands are based on historical proof.

"The South China Sea Islands have been widely recognized by the international community as part of China's territory since the end of the Second World War. It forms part of the post-war territorial² demarcation and international order. Many countries recognize that the islands are part of China's territory."

Liu also says China wants to send several messages, and declare its stance on the South China Sea issue through the white paper.

"Our primary objective is to set the facts straight, including making clear that our sovereignty and rights and interest are established in a long course of history, not entirely³ by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea."

China had stated that it would not accept nor participate in the arbitration⁴ unilaterally initiated⁵ by the Philippines.

The vice foreign minister says China's policies of peacefully settling the disputes remain unchanged.

"While firmly safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime⁶ rights and interests in the South China Sea, China adheres to the position of settling disputes through negotiation⁷ and consultation⁸, and managing differences through rules and mechanisms⁹. China endeavors to achieve win-win outcomes through mutually beneficial cooperation, and is committed to working with other countries in the region, to making the South China Sea a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship."

The white paper notes that China, which is the first country to have discovered, named and explored the South China Sea Islands, has continuously, peacefully and effectively exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction¹⁰ rights over them.

The document also notes that the Philippines' territorial claim over part of Nansha islands in the South China Sea is groundless from the perspectives of either history or international law.

For CRI, this is Fu Yu.

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

3 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

4 arbitration   

n.调停，仲裁

参考例句：

• The wage disagreement is under arbitration.工资纠纷正在仲裁中。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding.双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

5 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

6 maritime   

adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的

参考例句：

• Many maritime people are fishermen.许多居于海滨的人是渔夫。
• The temperature change in winter is less in maritime areas.冬季沿海的温差较小。

7 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

8 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

9 mechanisms   

n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 jurisdiction   

n.司法权，审判权，管辖权，控制权

参考例句：

• It doesn't lie within my jurisdiction to set you free.我无权将你释放。
• Changzhou is under the jurisdiction of Jiangsu Province.常州隶属江苏省。