BEIJING, Dec. 14 -- "The US side should never attempt to challenge China's determination to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity at any time," said Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), at a regular press briefing on Thursday.
According to reports, after China criticized the US littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords for illegally intruding into waters adjacent to Ren'ai Jiao, part of China's Nansha Qundao in the South China Sea, a US Navy anti-submarine patrol aircraft flew over the Taiwan Strait on December 6th.
When asked to comment on the US' recent moves, Spokesperson Zhang pointed out that China holds indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Qundao, including Ren'ai Jiao, and the adjacent waters. The US warship illegally intruded into the waters adjacent to Ren'ai Jiao without authorization from the Chinese government, seriously damaging China's sovereignty and security, violating international law and basic norms governing international relations, and undermining regional peace and stability.
He stressed that China always respects the navigation and overflight rights of all countries in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, but firmly opposes any action that endangers China's sovereignty and security in the name of freedom of navigation and overflight.
"Taiwan is an integral part of China's territory," the spokesperson noted. And he further pointed out that the US should never attempt to challenge China's firm determination to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity at any time. The waters of the Taiwan Strait are divided into internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, and exclusive economic zone, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and China's domestic law, and the so-called "international waters" do not exist at all.
The spokesperson emphasized that there is no such thing as "international waters" in the international maritime law. "By claiming that the Taiwan Strait is 'international waters,' the United States is creating an excuse to manipulate the Taiwan question and threaten China's sovereignty and security. China is firmly opposed to this," Spokesperson Zhang added.
In the end, the spokesperson stated that China once again urges the US to act cautiously in its words and deeds on Taiwan question and South China Sea issue, stop provocations, and take practical actions to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, so as to create favorable atmosphere for the healthy and stable development of bilateral military relations.