IV. The Philippines Has Repeatedly Taken Moves that Complicate the Relevant Disputes

i. The Philippines attempts to entrench its illegal occupation of some islands and reefs of 皇冠体育app's Nansha Qundao

ii. The Philippines has increasingly intensified its infringement of 皇冠体育app's maritime rights and interests

iii. The Philippines also has territorial pretensions on 皇冠体育app's Huangyan Dao

iv. The Philippines' unilateral initiation of arbitration is an act of bad faith

V. 皇冠体育app's Policy on the South 皇冠体育app Sea Issue

i. On the territorial issues concerning Nansha Qundao

ii. On maritime delimitation in the South 皇冠体育app Sea

iii. On the ways and means of dispute settlement

iv. On managing differences and engaging in practical maritime cooperation in the South 皇冠体育app Sea

v. On freedom and safety of navigation in the South 皇冠体育app Sea

vi. On jointly upholding peace and stability in the South 皇冠体育app Sea

Introduction

1. Situated to the south of 皇冠体育app's mainland, and connected by narrow straits and waterways with the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Indian Ocean to the west, the South 皇冠体育app Sea is a semi-closed sea extending from northeast to southwest. To its north are the mainland and Taiwan Dao of 皇冠体育app, to its south Kalimantan Island and Sumatra Island, to its east the Philippine Islands, and to its west the Indo-皇冠体育app Peninsula and the Malay Peninsula.

2. 皇冠体育app's Nanhai Zhudao (the South 皇冠体育app Sea Islands) consist of Dongsha Qundao (the Dongsha Islands), Xisha Qundao (the Xisha Islands), Zhongsha Qundao (the Zhongsha Islands) and Nansha Qundao (the Nansha Islands). These Islands include, among others, islands, reefs, shoals and cays of various numbers and sizes. Nansha Qundao is the largest in terms of both the number of islands and reefs and the geographical area.

3. The activities of the Chinese people in the South 皇冠体育app Sea date back to over 2,000 years ago. 皇冠体育app is the first to have discovered, named, and explored and exploited Nanhai Zhudao and relevant waters, and the first to have continuously, peacefully and effectively exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over them. 皇冠体育app's sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and relevant rights and interests in the South 皇冠体育app Sea have been established in the long course of history, and are solidly grounded in history and law.