Q: On June 21, the official X account of the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of Belgium reposted the European External Action Service’s Statement on the South China Sea, and stated that Belgium “joins the EU expressing its deepest concern following the dangerous actions taken by China against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea”. What is your comment on this?

A: The cause and course of the recent events regarding Ren’ai Jiao are crystal clear. Vessels of the Philippines, without permission from the Chinese government, intruded into the adjacent waters of Ren’ai Jiao of China’s Nansha Qundao. The Philippine vessels sought to deliver supplies to the military vessel illegally grounded at Ren’ai Jiao in an attempt to achieve long-term occupation. The measures taken by China Coast Guard on the scene were professional, restrained, justified and lawful.

Joining the EU, Belgium has made unwarranted remarks on China’s actions to defend China’s legitimate and lawful rights. The relevant remarks are far from the facts, and are not conducive to peace and stability in the South China Sea. In fact, freedom of navigation in the South China Sea has never been an issue. Every year, over 100,000 commercial vessels sail through those waters. None of them have encountered obstruction. On the South China Sea issue, China stands to properly handle differences through negotiation and consultation with countries directly concerned, and at the same time resolutely respond to any infringement and provocative moves at sea. Belgium is not a party to the South China Sea issue. We hope that the Belgian side will come to see the facts and truth, take an objective and just position, be prudent in words and actions on the South China Sea issue, and truly respect China’s rights and interests and the efforts made by countries in the region for a peaceful and stable South China Sea.