On July 11, the Global Affairs Canada released a so-called statement on South China Sea ruling. The statement disregards the historical merits and objective facts, makes irresponsible remarks on the situation of the South China Sea and the East China Sea, violates and distorts international law, deliberately stokes disputes, sows discord among regional countries and undermines regional peace and stability. China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to the wrong act by the Canadian side. I want to stress the following points:

Firstly, the fact that the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea is generally stable can not be denied. With the concerted efforts of relevant regional countries, the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea is generally stable. There is no "regional tensions" played up by a handful of countries including Canada. China resolutely safeguards national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and at the same time, stands ready to properly settle maritime disputes with countries concerned through consultation and negotiation, to jointly safeguard regional peace and tranquility. On the issue of maintaining regional peace and stability, China has a high degree of consensus with relevant countries in the region.

Secondly, China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea and the East China Sea cannot be denied. China's sovereignty, rights and interests in the South China Sea and the East China Sea have been formed in the course of a long history. They are supported by abundant historical and legal basis and upheld by the Chinese government all along. No country raised any objection to China’s  position on the South China Sea until 1970s. The South China Sea arbitration violated the principle of state consent and the arbitral tribunal exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires and rendered an award in disregard of law. The arbitration has major fallacies in fact-finding and application of law and violates UNCLOS and international law. The award of the arbitration is illegal, null and void. China does not accept or participate in the arbitration, nor does it accept or recognize the award. China's sovereignty and rights and interests over the South China Sea are not affected at all by the arbitration and China does not accept any claim or act based on it.  On the East China Sea issue, the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are inherent Chinese territory. It is Japan that keeps making provocation and undermining regional stability.

Thirdly, the sinister intention of the forces outside the region can not be concealed. China always advocates friendly negotiations and consultations to settle maritime issues and exercises maximum restraint when safeguarding our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. On the opposite, the US willfully sends large-scale advanced vessels and aircraft to the South China Sea for military reconnaissance and drills and illegally intruded into China's territorial waters and space and water and air space adjacent to islands and reefs. It is self-evident who is escalating and destabilizing the region and intimidating and threatening other states. The regional countries and the international community are sharp-eyed on this fact.

Fourthly, China's firm determination and will to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests over the maritime issues are unquestionable. No one should underestimate the great resolve, the strong will, and the extraordinary ability of the Chinese people to defend their national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Every inch of the Chinese territory absolutely cannot be separated from China.

The Chinese side urges the Canadian side to stop its provocations related to maritime issues, respect China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and do not go further down the wrong path, so as not to cause further damages to China-Canada relations, regional peace and stability.