China demands a bilateral resolution of maritime disputes.

China maintains that maritime disputes in the region should only be resolved through direct negotiations with the countries involved and rejects third-party interference.

A Vietnamese fisheries patrol vessel was approached and sprayed with water cannons by a Chinese coast guard ship in the waters near the illegally deployed Haiyang 981 oil rig. Photo: Nguyen Dong

Speaking at the World Peace Forum in Beijing last weekend, Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi said that the country "will never compromise its core interests" and "swallow its pride" in the face of actions that "undermine its sovereignty, security, and development interests."

According to the Washington Post, Yang argued that disputes should be resolved through direct negotiations between the parties and that no third party should be involved. Although Yang did not directly mention it in his statement, China has repeatedly opposed the US pivot to Asia policy and accused Washington of escalating tensions in the South China Sea.

In an interview on the sidelines of the forum afterward, Wu Shicun, chairman and senior researcher at China's South China Sea Institute, stated that "some countries are using outside influence to internationalize South China Sea issues."

Beijing appears to be trying to prevent a U.S. military presence in the seas surrounding China, said Stephen Hadley, former national security adviser under former President George W. Bush, speaking at the forum. According to him, the U.S. military presence in Asia is very strong, and even without it, China's neighbors could still unite to counter Beijing.

China is increasingly expanding its activities aimed at realizing its hegemonic ambitions in the South China Sea and East China Sea. It rejects international efforts to resolve tensions and earlier this month reiterated its stance that it does not recognize the Philippines' lawsuit in an international court concerning the South China Sea dispute.

However, Manila insists it will continue with legal solutions, regardless of whether Beijing agrees to appear in court. Vietnamese officials are also considering options, including legal action, to protest China's claims and infringing actions in waters under Vietnam's sovereignty.

According to VNexpress