US should brush up on South China Sea history, says Beijing

BEIJING • The United States needs to brush up on its history about the South China Sea, as World War II-related agreements mandated that all Chinese territories taken by Japan had to be returned to China, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on a visit to Australia.

China has been upset by comments from the new US administration about the disputed waterway.

In his Senate confirmation hearing last month, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said China should not be allowed access to islands it has built in the waterway.

The White House also vowed to defend "international territories" in the strategic waterway.

However, last week, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis suggested that diplomacy should be the priority in the South China Sea.

In comments on the Chinese Foreign Ministry's website late on Tuesday, Mr Wang said he had a "suggestion" for his American friends.

"Brush up on the history of World War II," Mr Wang was quoted as saying during his visit to the Australian capital, Canberra.

The 1943 Cairo Declaration and 1945 Potsdam Declaration clearly state that Japan had to return to China all Chinese territory taken by Japan, he said. "This includes the Nansha islands," he added, using China's name for the Spratly islands.

"In 1946, the then-Chinese government with help from the United States openly and in accordance with the law took back the Nansha islands and reefs that Japan had occupied, and resumed exercising sovereignty," Mr Wang said.

"Afterwards, certain countries around China used illegal methods to occupy some of the Nansha islands and reefs, and it's this that created the so-called South China Sea dispute," he added.

China is committed to having talks with the parties directly involved, and in accordance with historical facts and international law, to peacefully resolve the issue and that position will not change, Mr Wang said.

Countries outside the region should support the efforts of China and others in the region to maintain the peace and stability of the South China Sea and not do the opposite, he added.

China sets great store on Mr Mattis' comments stressing diplomatic efforts in the South China Sea, as this is not only the position set by China and South-east Asia but also the "correct choice" for countries outside the region, Mr Wang said.

China claims most of the South China Sea, while Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei claim parts of the waters that command strategic sea lanes and have rich fishing grounds, along with oil and gas deposits.

REUTERS

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 09, 2017, with the headline US should brush up on South China Sea history, says Beijing. Subscribe