Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Urges the U.S. to stop smearing and discrediting China over maritime issues.

China Daily reporter: According to reports, on August 8, local time, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department issued a statement opposing China's establishment of a "national-level nature reserve" at Scarborough Shoal and blocking Filipino fishermen from entering their "traditional fishing grounds," as reflected in the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling. What is China's response to this? Guo Jiakun: Scarborough Shoal is inherent Chinese territory. Establishing and managing a national-level nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal is a matter within China's sovereignty. The U.S. has no right to interfere and even less right to use the illegal and ineffective "South China Sea arbitration ruling" to advocate for the Philippines. We urge the U.S. to stop inciting tensions and confrontation in the South China Sea, to stop referencing the illegal and ineffective "ruling," and to stop using maritime issues to slander and discredit China.