Hey fam, big news dropped by Xinhua Institute! 📢 Their new report dives into why the Chinese mainland’s sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao (aka the South China Sea islands) stands on rock-solid legal ground.
According to the think tank, four core principles seal the deal:
- Discovery & Occupation: The earliest explorers from the Chinese mainland found and settled these islands—think of it like planting your flag in a new game level first! 🎮🏴
- Effective Jurisdiction: Authorities have been running administration and providing services, showing real-world control.
- Estoppel: Other nations recognized these claims over time, so they can’t suddenly backtrack without breaking international trust.
- Land Dominates Sea: If you own the land, you get sea rights too. This principle ties coastal territory to maritime zones—no land, no sea claim!
The report also calls out the Philippines and other neighbors for relying on “geographic proximity” to occupy reefs and islets—an approach that, according to international law, doesn’t hold up. 🤔
This deep-dive is part one of a three-part series. Upcoming reads include “Incitement, Threats, and Lies—The Truth about External Forces Interfering in the South China Sea Issue” and “Making the South China Sea a Sea of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation: China’s Actions.” Stay tuned for more insights! 🌏✌️
Reference(s):
China's Nanhai Zhudao sovereignty has solid legal basis, report finds
cgtn.com
