On 12 July, Latvia joined the statement ten years after the “South China Sea arbitration award” issued by a small number of countries. It’s a distortion of facts and act of vilification against China. We deplore and reject it. 

China’s sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea were established in the long course of history, and are solidly grounded in the law.

The so-called “South China Sea arbitration” violates fundamental principles of international law, including “state consent” and “pacta sunt servanda”, contravenes UNCLOS, and runs counter to the basic facts of the South China Sea. It is nothing but a stunt pulled by a handful of Western countries for the political purpose of containing China.

China neither accepts nor recognizes the “award,” and opposes and will never accept any claim or action arising from it. China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea shall not be affected by the “award” under any circumstances.

Certain European countries, including Latvia, blatantly applies double standards on issues concerning international law will further erode its own credibility on the international stage, and damage the bilateral relations and political mutual trust.

Latvia is not a party in the South China Sea and is in no position to pass judgment on China’s legitimate territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. We urge the Latvian side to recognise the broader trend, respect the facts, and stop participating in the anti-China acts staged by a handful of countries.