Chinese people from the mainland and Taiwan have a shared responsibility to safeguard the Nansha Islands, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in Beijing on Thursday.
Spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a regular news briefing after Taiwan issued its South China Sea policy and sent an Amicus Curiae Brief to The Hague.
In response to a question on Taiwan's recent claims on the South China Sea, Hua described the Nansha Islands as "patrimony" of the Chinese nation.
Taiwan's academic institutions Wednesday sent an Amicus Curiae Brief to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague after the Taiwan authority published South China Sea policy on Monday. Both defined the Taiping Island as "an island" in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and claimed the maritime rights of exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
"China will not accept nor be involved in the arbitration initiated by the Philippines," she said, saying China's position is clear and consistent.
"Nansha Islands, including the Taiping Island, have been Chinese territory since ancient times," Hua said, adding that the Chinese people have been living and working there for a long time.
"China will take Nansha Islands as a whole to claim maritime rights," Hua said, reaffirming China's resolute opposition against the Philippines'attempt to unilaterally deny China's territory sovereignty and maritime rights by arbitration.
