February 19, 2024

China and ASEAN countries have the ability and wisdom to reach a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) and safeguard peace and stability, freedoms of navigation and overflight, and the legitimate rights and interests of other countries in the region, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the 60th Munich Security Conference on Saturday. 

A Chinese maritime expert attending the conference noted that China has always advocated resolving South China Sea disputes through peaceful means. However, if extraterritorial countries continue to send wrong signals, leading to the Philippines taking risky actions and escalating tensions at sea, China will inevitably take necessary actions to defend its own rights.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, refuted the fallacy of China's so-called aggression in the South China Sea when answering questions following his keynote speech during the "China in the World" session.

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