During his visit to Vietnam on August 5, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi expressed the Chinese view on the formulation of a “South China Sea Code of Conduct” (COC), and put forward a four-point proposal: "rational expectations, consensus, elimination of outside interference, progressive development". Wang Yi’s opinion was a response to other countries’ miscalculation of the situation – countries which hope to use the South China Sea Code of Conduct as a silver bullet to cure their problems with China over South China Sea territorial sovereignty and maritime rights disputes. This misguided approach has interfered with the normal process of discussion on such matters, and has affected peace and stability in the area.

In recent years, the Philippines have developed something of an idiosyncratic approach to the sovereignty of the South China Sea. In addition to frequent provocations in the area in order to strengthen its military presence, they have also repeatedly tried to multilateralize and internationalize the issue. On the issue of the South China Sea Code of Conduct, the Philippines continually try to portray their own self-interest as “the will of ASEAN”, in order to outmaneuver China.

The action of the Philippines is a breach of the aims of the South China Sea Code of Conduct. In 2002, China and ASEAN signed The Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. As a regional organization, the association of south-east Asian nations (ASEAN) has also repeatedly stressed its neutrality on the issue, maintaining that disputes in the area should be resolved by claimants through peaceful negotiations.

The South China Sea Code of Conduct is not designed to resolve specific disputes. The guidelines are not there to be distorted by one or other party, and turned into a "tool" to challenge China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. In Brunei in July, U.S. secretary of state John Kerry reiterated that freedom of navigation in the South China Sea accords with America's strategic interests, and he wants to see the South China Sea Code of Conduct signed as soon as possible.

One important fact is being ignored by the Philippines and its supporters: good consultations must be based on sound mutual trust. And right now the atmosphere is not conducive to constructive dialogue.

Firstly, China and the ASEAN countries agreed to explore the process of the South China Sea Code of Conduct after implementing the declaration on the conduct of the parties involved in the South China Sea, and that declaration has not yet been effectively implemented. Secondly, other countries have failed to follow China’s lead. In recent years, China has fully respected the wishes of the ASEAN countries to promote negotiations on the code of conduct. China has maintained a positive, open attitude on the guidelines that extends to promoting negotiations on the code of conduct. But the Philippines have responded to China’s good will with provocation. This is likely to provoke discord on the guidelines. Finally, unless all parties follow the rules, even if agreement is reached on a code of conduct, there will be no real prospects of long-term peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Therefore, all parties need to adopt a constructive attitude to South China Sea issues and the South China Sea Code of Conduct. Let us work together and create the right atmosphere to achieve a sound and satisfactory solution to the dispute through consultations and negotiations.

Edited and translated by Zhang Qian, People's Daily Online

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