Beijing lodges ‘serious protest’ with US over Rubio’s remarks on South China Sea

Beijing on Monday lodged a “serious protest” with Washington over what it called “wrongful” remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the disputed South China Sea.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian was reacting to a statement by Rubio over China’s announcement to establish a national nature reserve on Scarborough Shoal.

Rubio called the move a "destabilizing" attempt to assert sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the region.

Responding to Rubio’s remarks, Lin said: “It is China’s sovereign right to create a nature reserve on the island, which is legitimate and lawful and beyond reproach.”

“The US is not a party to the South China Sea and has repeatedly made irresponsible remarks,” he said.

Last week, Beijing announced that China’s State Council had approved the creation of the Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve, describing it as “a crucial guarantee for safeguarding the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the natural ecosystem” on the disputed island.

The proposed nature reserve on Scarborough Shoal, known in China as Huangyan Island and in the Philippines as Bajo de Masinloc, is at the heart of tensions between Beijing and Manila, which has drawn the support of its treaty ally, the US.

A day after China announced its decision, Rubio said: “Beijing claiming Scarborough Reef as a nature preserve is yet another coercive attempt to advance sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea at the expense of its neighbors, including by preventing Filipino fishermen from accessing these traditional fishing grounds.”

Lin said the US has “brought individual countries to sow discord in the South China Sea, which has otherwise been tranquil all along.”

On Rubio’s suggestion that China comply with the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling, which concluded that Beijing had unlawfully prevented Filipino fishermen from operating in Scarborough Reef, Lin said the arbitral “is nothing but a political farce orchestrated by the US as a political process. The so-called decision is null and void and is not binding.”

“The US should keep its hands off the South China Sea… hands that have been a source of disinformation, tension and confrontation and give the South China Sea its tranquility back,” said Lin.

“With the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the South China Sea has been generally stable,” he added, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

He added that China “will continue to work with the ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the declaration of the conduct of the parties in South China Sea… for friendship and cooperation.”