On January 14, 2016, Indonesian English Newspaper The Jakarta Post published the article “Maintaining Peace and Stability in the South China Sea” written by Dr. Xu Bu, Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN. The full text is as follows:

In a recent article, an Indonesian scholar claimed that China is advancing so-called “Maritime Colonization” (Kolonialisasi Maritim in Bahasa) in Asia. Since the aforesaid comment goes against the fact, it is more than necessary for me to clarify so as to avoid potential misunderstandings.

The modern history witnessed the colonialism wreaking havoc in both China and Southeast Asia. As an old Chinese saying goes, “Do not do unto others what you do not want done unto yourself.” All the nations having suffered from humiliation and torment resulted from colonialism know well to cherish sovereignty, independence and peace the most. The Chinese government has been consistently and firmly opposing colonialism and hegemonism in international relations, and maintaining the post-WWII international order and world peace. China’s policy on the South China Sea issue came down in the same spirit, upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea and resolving the disputes through negotiation and consultation. China’s position can stand the test of history.

Although there are a few countries within and beyond the region attempting to mislead the public, the merits of South China Sea issue could not be blurred. China was the first to discover, name, exploit and develop the Nansha Islands and China was also the first to exercise consistent sovereign jurisdictions over the Islands. During the WWII, some islands in the South China Sea were illegally occupied by Japan. In accordance with such international documents in WWII as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, Japan must unconditionally return the territories it had stolen from China. After the WWII, China recovered the occupied islands and resumed exercise of sovereignty. Until the 1960s, there hadn’t been a single country challenging China’s sovereignty over the Nansha Islands. A report by the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) in 1968 stimulated some littoral states of the South China Sea to set their eyes on the oil and gas resources, and later set their feet on the islands and reefs illegally. However, in the interest of peace and stability in South China Sea, China has been exercising the utmost restraint. It is definitely not exaggerating to name China as the victim who suffers the most from the South China Sea issue. For us, the aforesaid history is by no means a remote memory.

For more than one year, China has been conducting development activities on its own territories including the Nansha islands and reefs. In fact, some countries have never ceased their development activities on those islands and reefs illegally taken from China. China was actually the last country to develop the Nansha islands and reefs, part of its own territory. What China has built focuses on making available civil services and providing international public goods. Upon the completion of the various facilities, the vessels navigating the South China Sea would enjoy more facilitating services, the maritime search and rescue efforts would be better supported, and the marine scientific research and environmental protection cooperation would secure a reliable platform. China's development activities on the islands and reefs won’t impact or target any other country, won’t affect the freedom of navigation and over-flight in the South China Sea, and won’t damage the marine ecosystem, let alone resulting in so-called militarization.

As for the argument that China has controlled the strategic sea lane in the South China Sea, it can’t hold water at all when confronted with the facts. 600 years ago, Zhen He (also known as Cheng Ho), a well-known Chinese navigator, travelled as far as Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, bringing with his fleet friendly exchanges and fair trade. Today, China’s 40 percent of commodity trade and 80 percent of imported energy have to pass the South China Sea. China not only benefits from but also firmly safeguards the freedom and safety of navigation in the South China Sea. China has been always honoring and maintaining the freedom of navigation and over-flight in the South China Sea enjoyed by all countries in accordance with the international laws. Thanks to the concerted efforts by China and ASEAN countries, the international shipping lane in the South China Sea stays unimpeded, flourishes with trade and benefits all countries concerned. However, some external countries, often in the disguise of upholding the freedom of navigation, sends military vessels and airplanes approaching and even entering into the waters and air space close to the related islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Islands only to flex its military muscle. China stands firmly against such actions that posed threats to China's sovereignty and security, abets the militarization of South China Sea and endangers regional peace and stability.

China is a committed defender of peace in the South China Sea and an active promoter of regional cooperation. For many years, China has been dedicated to working with ASEAN countries to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). In 2013, all parties kicked off the consultation on a code of conduct in the South China Sea (COC) under the DOC framework. The past two years witnessed significant progress in the consultation including issuing documents of commonalities and securing early harvests. In October 2015, China and ASEAN countries declared that the COC consultation entering into a phase to discuss crucial and complex issues. At the same time, all parties agreed to China’s proposal to explore and formulate the Preventive Measures on Managing Risks at Sea, in the purpose of effectively controlling situation at sea and avoiding maritime accidents before the conclusion of COC. Facts have proved that China has been always determined to resolve the disputes through peaceful negotiation and consultation and China has always been sincere to shelve the disputes while seeking common development. However, some country in the region goes against its DOC obligation to settle the South China Sea issue through peaceful negotiation and consultation, unilaterally initiated and advanced the international arbitration only making it more complicated the situation of South China Sea. Such arbitration, no matter how cunningly packaged, can never hide its essence of political provocation. China’s position not to accept or participate in the arbitration is a just action to safeguard our national rights and interests and international rule of law as well.

In 2015, together with more than 30 Asian and African countries, China attended the activities held by Indonesia commemorating the 60th anniversary of Bandung Conference (also known as the Asian-African Conference in 1955). As the well-known results of the Conference, Bandung Spirit and Ten Principles in International Relations have become the guiding principles in fostering a new type of international relations. China has been always adhering to Bandung Spirit featuring unity, friendship and cooperation and working with the countries including Indonesia to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sean and our region. In recent years, China has put forward the initiative to jointly build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road to promote development and prosperity in the South China Sea. I am convinced that the joint efforts by China and Indonesia will surely inject indispensable impetus into the cause of addressing the South China Sea issue in an appropriate manner. While under the concerted efforts by all countries in the region, our dream will at last come true to have a South China Sea blessed with peace, friendship and prosperity.