地区发展繁荣离不开南海的和平稳定。中方始终致力于遵守包括《联合国海洋法公约》在内的国际法，始终恪守《南海各方行为宣言》，坚持同当事国通过对话协商妥处分歧，积极开展海上务实合作。南海的航行和飞越自由不存在任何问题。当前，中国和东盟国家正积极推进“南海行为准则”磋商，争取早日达成。我想强调，中国在南海的领土主权和海洋权益具有充分的历史和法理依据。中方采取必要措施，维护自身主权权益，合理合法。有关域外国家应当尊重和支持中国与地区国家共同维护南海和平稳定的努力，切实为地区和平稳定发挥建设性作用。

Peace and stability in the South China Sea is critical to the development and prosperity of our region. China has all along committed itself to international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), consistently honored the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), opted for dialogue and consultation with countries directly concerned in properly handling differences, and actively engaged in practical maritime cooperation. There are no obstacles whatsoever to freedom of navigation or overflight in the South China Sea. At present, China and ASEAN countries are actively advancing consultations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) and will strive for its early conclusion. I wish to underscore that China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea have solid historical and legal grounds. It is legitimate and lawful for China to take necessary measures to safeguard its sovereign rights and interests. Relevant countries outside the region should respect and support the joint efforts of China and regional countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, and truly play a constructive role for peace and stability in the region.

郭嘉昆：制定“南海行为准则”是落实《南海各方行为宣言》的重要举措，也是中国和东盟国家的重要共识，有利于各方更好管控分歧，促进合作，维护南海和平稳定。目前中方正同东盟国家就“准则”案文保持密切磋商，希望各方坚定目标，聚焦共识，排除干扰，争取早日达成“准则”。

Guo Jiakun: Formulating a code of conduct in the South China Sea (COC) is an important measure of implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and also an important agreement between China and ASEAN countries. It will help parties better manage differences, advance cooperation, and keep the South China Sea peaceful and stable. China is having close consultation with ASEAN countries on the text of the COC. We hope parties will stick to our shared goal, focus on common ground, resist disruptions, and strive to reach a COC at an early date.

路透社记者：上个月底，东盟国家与中国举行落实《南海各方行为宣言》高官会，各方同意加强对话。此次会议是否有助于缓解南海紧张局势？菲律宾是否表现出解决南海问题的意愿？双方计划采取哪些后续措施？

Reuters: At the end of last month, there was an ASEAN-China senior officials’ meeting on implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and countries agreed to strengthen dialogue. Have the talks helped to ease all the tensions in the South China Sea? Did the Philippines show any willingness to resolve the South China Sea issues? What are the next steps that both sides are planning to take?

郭嘉昆：仙宾礁是中国南沙群岛的一部分，中国对包括仙宾礁在内的南沙群岛及其附近海域拥有无可争议的主权。12月12日，菲律宾有组织有预谋地纠集大量船只在仙宾礁附近海域挑衅滋事，并冲闯仙宾礁潟湖。其间，菲方所谓渔船不顾中方一再劝阻和警告，顽固在仙宾礁潟湖滞留，还多次采取恶意转向等危险举动，菲方人员甚至持刀威胁中方现场维权执法的海警。菲方行径严重侵犯中方主权和权益，严重违反国际法和《南海各方行为宣言》，严重破坏海上和平稳定。中方采取必要处置措施维护自身领土主权和海洋权益，合理合法，专业克制，无可非议。菲方应该立即停止侵权挑衅和煽宣炒作，停止无休止地上演自编自导的海上闹剧，不要挑战中方维护自身主权和权益的坚定决心。

Guo Jiakun: Xianbin Jiao is part of China’s Nansha Qundao. China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao, which include Xianbin Jiao, and their adjacent waters. On December 12, the Philippines has taken organized and orchestrated moves to send a large number of ships to make provocations and create trouble in the waters off Xianbin Jiao and intruded into the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao. The Philippines’ so-called fishing ships, despite China’s repeated dissuasion and warning, have deliberately anchored in the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao and repeatedly conducted dangerous maneuvers including veering suddenly off course. The Philippine personnel even threatened China Coast Guard officers with knives who were carrying out rights-defending law enforcement activities. The Philippines’ moves seriously infringe upon China’s sovereignty and rights and interests, violate international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and sabotage maritime peace and stability. It is legitimate, lawful, professional, restrained and beyond reproach for China to do what is necessary to safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. The Philippines needs to immediately stop its infringement, provocations and vilification, stop its endless self-directed stunts at sea, and refrain from challenging China’s firm resolve to safeguard our sovereignty and rights and interests.