Beijing Describes Rubio’s Comments as “Wrongful”

(MENAFN) Beijing on Monday delivered a “serious protest” to Washington regarding what it labeled “wrongful” statements made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the contested South China Sea.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian addressed Rubio’s criticism of China’s decision to set up a national ecological preserve on Scarborough Shoal.

Rubio characterized the initiative as a "destabilizing" effort to enforce extensive territorial and maritime claims in the area.

Replying to Rubio’s assertions, Lin emphasized: “It is China’s sovereign right to create a nature reserve on the island, which is legitimate and lawful and beyond reproach.”

He further added: “The US is not a party to the South China Sea and has repeatedly made irresponsible remarks.”

The previous week, Beijing declared that China’s State Council had authorized the establishment of the Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve, portraying it as “a crucial guarantee for safeguarding the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the natural ecosystem” on the disputed territory.

The envisioned ecological preserve on Scarborough Shoal — referred to in China as Huangyan Island and in the Philippines as Bajo de Masinloc — remains a focal point of friction between Beijing and Manila, a dispute in which the Philippines has received backing from its treaty partner, the US.

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