China wants peaceful settlement of disputes, says official, amid tensions over South China Sea
A Chinese official has praised the UN International Court of Justice and called the Chinese government “an active advocator for peaceful settlement of disputes” — but he stressed that all parties must agree on the means to settle differences.
The comments by Xu Hong, director general of the Foreign Ministry’s Department of Treaty and Law, were made as China is embroiled in disputes with several of its neighbours over its claims to sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea.
Another international tribunal, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, last week ruled it had jurisdiction in a case brought by the Philippines against China over competing maritime claims.
China has declared that it will not take part in arbitration with the Philippines, insisting on one-on-one negotiations with smaller rival claimants which analysts say would give Beijing the advantage because of its sheer size and clout.
Xu told a UN General Assembly meeting on the International Court of Justice, the UN’s primary judicial branch, that “China stands for proper settlement through negotiations, dialogue and consultations”.
But he said the means of settling disputes should be based on “sovereign equality and in full respect for the wishes of the states concerned”.