No compromise on sovereignty, says Xi PRESIDENT Xi Jinping says China wants to resolve its maritime territorial disputes peacefully and through talks but will not compromise on sovereignty and has to step up its defensive...
moreNo compromise on sovereignty, says Xi
PRESIDENT Xi Jinping says China wants to resolve its maritime territorial disputes peacefully and through talks but will not compromise on sovereignty and has to step up its defensive capabilities.
At a study session with members of the politburo, Xi said China would adhere to the path of peaceful development, but “in no way will the country abandon its legitimate rights and interests, nor will it give up its core national interests.”
China will “use peaceful means and negotiations to settle disputes and strive to safeguard peace and stability,” Xi said. “China will prepare to cope with complexities, enhance its capacity in safeguarding maritime rights and interests, and resolutely safeguard its maritime rights and interests.”
Becoming a maritime power is an “important task” for China as “the oceans and seas have an increasingly important strategic status concerning global competition in the spheres of politics, economic development, military, and scientific and technology,” Xi said.
Still, the country will adhere to a policy of “shelving disputes and carrying out joint development” for areas over which China claims sovereignty, while also promoting mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation.
In the 21st century, oceans and seas have an increasingly important role to play in a country’s economic development and opening up to the outside world, he said.
Their status has become more prominent in regards to safeguarding state sovereignty, national security and development interests, as well as the advancement of a country’s ecological civilization.
The key report to the 18th National Congress of the CPC held last November outlined the “maritime power” strategy, calling for enhanced capacity for exploiting marine resources, protecting the marine environment and safeguarding China’s maritime rights.
Pillar of economy
Xi underscored efforts to make marine industries a pillar of China’s national economy.
Relevant parties should improve the capability and enlarge the fields for exploiting marine resources so as to “cultivate the marine economy into a new growth point of the country,” he said.
Xi also emphasized the “sustainable exploitation of marine resources,” saying that exploitation and protection, as well as pollution control and ecological remediation, should all be taken into account.
“All-out efforts should be made to curb the trend of the deterioration of the marine ecological environment,” Xi said.
