Law of the Sea - South China Sea

With the Philippines calling China's actions in the South China Sea as "the most serious breach" of the 2002 Asean-China DOC and Vietnam calling China's "nine-dotted line" as having no basis in international law, Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie made clear that “freedom of navigation has never been impeded” in the South China Sea. Later, a Chinese FM spokesman said that “China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and adjacent waters" and that China's position “has remained unchanged for centuries". Later, Chinese ambassador to the Philippines called on the neighbouring states to stop searching for oil near the Spratly Islands, saying, "We will never use force unless we are attacked,"