Kathmandu— China has accused the United States of escalating tensions in the South China Sea following a statement from the U.S. State Department criticizing Beijing's actions around Huangyan Dao, also known as Scarborough Shoal. The Chinese Foreign Ministry asserted its sovereignty over the area and defended the establishment of a national nature reserve there, while dismissing the 2016 Arbitral Award that favored the Philippines’ claims as illegal and invalid. The exchange occurred on Friday, with Beijing urging Washington to cease what it calls instigation and confrontation in the region.

Territorial Dispute at Huangyan Dao

China maintains that Huangyan Dao has historically been its territory and therefore asserts its sovereign right to establish and administer a national nature reserve around the shoal. This move, however, has drawn criticism from the United States, which supports the Philippines’ claims to fishing grounds in the area.

The U.S. State Department recently issued a statement rejecting China's actions as a denial of access for Filipino fishermen to what it considers their “traditional fishing ground,” referencing the 2016 Arbitral Award.

Rejection of Arbitral Ruling

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun firmly rejected the validity of the 2016 Arbitral Award, labeling it as illegal and void. He argued that this ruling provides no legitimate basis for the United States to advocate on behalf of the Philippines.

Guo stated that the U.S. is in “no position to point fingers” given the circumstances, and urged Washington to refrain from using the issue as a means to discredit China.

Call for De-escalation

China has directly appealed to the United States to cease referencing what it deems an illegitimate arbitral award and to stop utilizing maritime disputes as justification for negative portrayals of China. The spokesperson emphasized that Washington should refrain from actions that could further escalate tensions in the South China Sea.

The dispute over Huangyan Dao remains a key point of contention between China, the Philippines, and the United States, with no immediate resolution in sight. China continues to assert its sovereignty while the U.S. maintains support for the Philippines’ claims.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.