On August 2, 2019 local time, on the sidelines of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting on East Asia Cooperation in Bangkok, Thailand, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi fought back to the groundless accusation against China made by some individual country on the South China Sea.

　　当地时间2019年8月2日，国务委员兼外交部长王毅在泰国曼谷出席东亚合作系列外长会期间，就个别国家在南海问题上无端指责中国作出回应。

　　Wang Yi said, with joint efforts of China and the Association Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, the situation in the South China Sea has remained stable in general and has been showing a positive momentum. Following the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, we have actively advanced the consultations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea and completed the first reading of the COC single draft negotiating text ahead of the schedule. This signifies that the framework of the COC has been formed and shows the firm determination and capability of China and the ASEAN countries to promote the COC consultations. It is quite a regret that, contrary to the willingness of the regional countries to seek peace and promote cooperation, a major country outside the region has been flexing military muscles in the South China Sea and deliberately creating tension to seek excuses for increasing its forward-deployed military forces in the region. It is not an act of good-will, let alone a responsible act of concern for peaceful development in the region.

　　王毅说，在中国和东盟国家共同努力下，南海局势总体保持稳定，并不断呈现向好态势。我们秉承《南海各方行为宣言》精神，积极推进“南海行为准则”磋商，提前完成“准则”单一磋商文本草案第一轮审读，标志着“准则”框架已经成型，展现出中国同东盟国家推进“准则”磋商的坚定决心与能力。令人遗憾的是，与地区国家求和平、促合作的意愿相反，某个域外大国不断在南海炫耀武力，人为制造紧张，为在本地区增加前沿军事部署寻求借口，这不是善意之举，更不是关心地区和平发展的负责任行为。

　　Wang Yi noted, as a firm defender of regional peace and stability, China has always pursued a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. According to international law, it is the legitimate right of a sovereign state to deploy defense facilities on its own territory. A major country outside the region has constantly accused China of "militarizing" the South China Sea, but it is just this major country that has hundreds of military bases around the world and deploys hundreds of thousands of troops outside its territory. How can a country pursuing "militarization" around the world have the justification and qualification to accuse others of pursuing "militarization"? China should not be labeled with this.

　　王毅说，中国作为地区和平安宁的坚定维护者，一贯奉行防御性国防政策。依据国际法，一国在自己领土上部署防御设施，是主权国家的正当权利。某个域外大国不断指责中国在南海搞“军事化”，但正是这个国家，在全世界拥有数百个军事基地，在本国领土以外部署了数十万人军队。一个在全世界推行“军事化”的国家，有什么理由和资格指责别人搞“军事化”？这个标签贴不到中国身上。

　　重点词汇

　　Code of Conduct行动守则，管理法典; 行为准则

　　national defense国防

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