Recently, certain countries outside the South China Sea region issued a joint statement on the 10th anniversary of the so-called "South China Sea Arbitration Award."

The statement disregards historical facts and basic norms of international law, wrongly denies China's legitimate rights and interests in the South China Sea, groundlessly criticizes China's lawful exercise of jurisdiction and its actions to safeguard its rights there, and attempts to justify the so-called "award," which has been illegal, null and void from the very beginning.

The South China Sea is not a "hunting ground" for extra-regional countries, much less an arena for great-power rivalry. Countries including the US, Japan and Australia, as well as the European Union, are not parties to the South China Sea issue and ought to maintain an objective and neutral stance on the territorial disputes in the region.

Instead, driven by their own geopolitical interests, they have repeatedly endorsed the so-called "award," encouraged and emboldened the Philippines to take provocative actions that infringe on China's rights, and deliberately sought to sow discord among regional countries.

With the overall situation in the South China Sea remaining stable, these actions by external forces go against the common aspiration of people in the region for peace and development and are highly irresponsible toward regional countries and international peace and stability.

Some extra-regional countries have a poor track record of stirring up trouble. Major international crises they have caused in the Middle East, Europe and elsewhere remain unresolved, with turmoil and division continuing. Now these countries are attempting to repeat the same playbook in the South China Sea, and their intent to disrupt the region and contain China is clear.

The US has not yet ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), yet it makes unwarranted accusations against and blatantly interferes in other countries' legitimate maritime activities, laying bare its hegemonic logic and hypocrisy.

During World War II, Japan committed innumerable crimes that caused untold suffering on China and its people, including the illegal occupation of islands and reefs in the South China Sea. Instead of reflecting on its past, Japan, in the name of a "stakeholder," is once again attempting to meddle in the South China Sea. This recalls Japan's history of aggression and expansion and heightens concerns over its neo-militarist agenda.

The so-called "South China Sea arbitration" is a political circus dressed up as legal action, unilaterally initiated by the Philippines and supported by external forces. The so-called "award" has never carried any legal force. It is untenable on both procedural and substantive grounds. Land territorial issues are not subject to UNCLOS. Under the optional exceptions declaration China made in 2006 pursuant to Article 298 of the Convention, maritime delimitation disputes are excluded from the compulsory dispute settlement procedures under UNCLOS.

The Philippines' unilateral initiation of the arbitration violated both the bilateral agreement it reached with China and the principles for resolving disputes established under the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

The arbitral tribunal exceeded its jurisdiction and issued an illegitimate ruling, reaching numerous erroneous conclusions. Most notably, it wrongly characterized Taiping Dao (the Taiping Island), the largest island in Nansha Qundao (the Nansha Islands), with an area of 500,000 square meters, as a rock rather than an island.

By the same logic, islands and reefs belonging to external countries would also be denied the basis for claiming maritime rights and interests. Have those countries supporting the "award" voluntarily waived the maritime rights and interests deriving from their relevant islands and reefs? China urges relevant countries to consider this carefully before pointing fingers.

China's sovereignty and the relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea have been established over the course of history and are firmly grounded in both historical fact and international law. Chinese activities in the South China Sea date back more than 2,000 years.

China has sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao (the South China Sea Islands) and sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its relevant waters, seabed and subsoil. China also has historic rights in the South China Sea.

China's exercise of jurisdiction and law enforcement activities in the relevant islands, reefs and waters of the South China Sea fully comply with its domestic laws and international law, including UNCLOS, and are professional, restrained, justified and lawful. China's sovereignty and related rights and interests in the South China Sea are not affected in any way by the so-called "award."

China has firmly safeguarded its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, maintained peace and stability in the South China Sea, and properly handled maritime differences through negotiation and consultation.

For years, China and ASEAN countries, guided by the principles of mutual respect and consensus through consultation, have effectively implemented the DOC, steadily advanced consultations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) and deepened practical cooperation in maritime search and rescue, environmental protection and disaster prevention and mitigation.

Together, they have explored a model of maritime governance suited to regional realities while taking into account the interests of all parties.

The current situation in the South China Sea is generally stable. There is no problem with the freedom of navigation and overflight that countries enjoy in accordance with international law. Facts have demonstrated that China and regional countries have the capability and wisdom to properly manage differences, defuse tensions and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.

China will take firm and resolute countermeasures against any infringement or provocation in accordance with the law and will resolutely defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.

Peace, stability and prosperity in the South China Sea can only be maintained and safeguarded by regional countries and require no interference or disruption from external forces. China urges relevant countries outside the region to recognize the broader trend and immediately stop stirring up trouble in the South China Sea.

Certain regional countries should also see through the malicious intentions of external forces and return as soon as possible to the right track of handling maritime disputes through consultation among the countries directly concerned and in accordance with the spirit of the DOC.