外交部发言人洪磊例行记者会（2016年5月5日）
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei’s Regular Press Conference on May 5, 2016
问：据了解，东亚合作系列高官会即将在老挝举行，中方将派哪位官员与会？这次会议将主要讨论什么问题？
Q: It is known that a series of senior officials’ meetings (SOM) on East Asia cooperation will be held in Laos. Whom will China send for the meetings? What are the topics of these meetings?
答：5月7日至8日，东盟与中日韩（10＋3）高官会、东亚峰会（EAS）高官会、东盟地区论坛（ARF）高官会将在老挝琅勃拉邦举行。这是老挝作为东盟轮值主席国举行的第一次东亚合作系列高官会，中方对此高度重视，外交部副部长刘振民将率团与会。
A: The ASEAN-China, Japan, ROK (10+3) SOM, the East Asia Summit (EAS) SOM, and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) SOM will be held in Luang Prabang, Laos on May 7 and 8. China attaches great importance to these meetings as this is the first time for Laos to hold a series of East Asia cooperation SOMs since it assumed the rotating presidency of ASEAN. Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin will lead a delegation for these meetings.
会议将重点讨论10＋3、东亚峰会、东盟地区论坛等合作机制发展方向及各领域务实合作，并就共同关心的国际地区问题交换意见，为今年下半年的东亚合作领导人系列会议及系列外长会做准备。
The meetings will focus on the development of cooperation mechanisms namely 10+3, EAS and ARF as well as practical cooperation across the board, exchange views on international and regional issues of common interest, and lay the ground for the leaders’ meetings and foreign ministers’ meetings on East Asia cooperation to be held later this year.
在此次东亚合作系列高官会上，中方将主要介绍落实去年东亚合作领导人系列会议成果的举措，阐述对东亚区域合作有关机制发展方向的立场和主张以及对国际与地区问题的看法。
In the upcoming meetings, China will elaborate on the steps taken to implement the outcomes of last year’s East Asia cooperation leaders’ meetings, present its position and views regarding the future development of East Asia regional cooperation mechanisms as well as its stance on international and regional issues.
中方希望此次系列高官会聚焦发展，推动务实合作，维护东亚合作的良好氛围，为促进地区和平稳定与繁荣发展作出贡献。
It is hoped that this series of meetings will put development at center, promote practical cooperation, maintain the enabling environment for East Asia cooperation, and make contribution to regional peace, stability, prosperity and development.
问：有些人说，中国必须接受菲律宾单方面提起的南海仲裁，否则就是不遵守国际法。也有国际法专家认为，菲律宾南海仲裁案违反《联合国海洋法公约》，违背国际法治。中方对此有何评论？
Q: There are voices asking China to accept the South China Sea arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines, otherwise China is violating international law. Meanwhile, there are experts on international law saying that the South China Sea arbitration goes against the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and undermines international rule of law. How do you comment?
答：中国不接受、不参与菲律宾单方面提起的南海仲裁案，完全是依法行事。早在2006年，中国政府就依据《联合国海洋法公约》第298条有关规定，作出排除强制性仲裁的政府声明。
A: China’s non-acceptance and non-participation of the South China Sea arbitration case unilaterally initiated by the Philippines is actually acting in accordance with law. As early as 2006, China has released a governmental statement on optional exceptions excluding compulsory arbitration following Article 298 of UNCLOS.
中菲南海争议的核心是菲律宾非法侵占中国南沙群岛部分岛礁引起的领土问题以及中菲海洋划界问题，《联合国海洋法公约》有关强制争端解决程序不适用。
The crux of China-Philippine disputes in the South China Sea is the territorial dispute caused by the Philippines’ invasion and illegal occupation of some islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Islands as well as the disputes on maritime delimitation between China and the Philippines. The compulsory settlement procedure provided for in UNCLOS does not apply to these disputes.
菲律宾单方面提起并强行推进仲裁，是对《公约》强制争端解决程序的滥用，企图拿中国的领土主权和海洋权益作为诉讼标的，将仲裁事项包装成《公约》的解释和适用问题，掩盖自己非法侵占中国南沙群岛部分岛礁的事实，企图洗清自己的非法侵占行为，这是对尊重主权和领土完整的国际法基本原则的挑衅。这种违法行为冲击现代国际法和国际秩序的基础，严重背离《公约》宗旨，损害《公约》的完整性和权威性。
The Philippines unilaterally initiated and pushed for the arbitration, abusing the compulsory settlement procedure of UNCLOS. The Philippines attempts to target China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in its claim, package the items of arbitration into issues concerning the interpretation and application of UNCLOS, cover up its illegal occupation and invasion of some islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Islands, and whitewash its unlawful acts. Acts by the Philippines constitute provocation to the basic principles of international law featuring respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is such illicit acts that rock the foundation of modern international law and international order, deviate from the purposes of UNCLOS, and undermine the integrity and sanctity of UNCLOS.
菲律宾仲裁案从一开始就缺乏合法性和正当性，实际上是故意披着法律外衣对中国进行政治挑衅。个别国家出于一己私利企图“绑架”国际法治，以“法治”之名行破坏法治之实，践踏国际公平与正义，我们坚决反对。
The arbitration case initiated by the Philippines, from the very beginning, is not legal nor justifiable. Its true intention is to politically confront China under the cloak of law. We are firmly opposed to certain country’s plot to hijack international rule of law for its own selfish gains, sabotage the rule of law under the excuse of “safeguarding the rule of law” and trample on international fairness and justice.
问：菲律宾声称其提起仲裁是在穷尽了双边手段之后的无奈之举，但有评论认为中菲根本未就菲律宾诉求事项进行过任何谈判。中方对此有何看法？
Q: The Philippines claims that arbitration is its last resort after all bilateral means were exhausted. On the other hand, some people say that China and the Philippines have never held any negotiation on the items in Philippine’s claims. What’s your take on this?
答：中国与菲律宾已通过一系列双边、多边文件，明确选择了通过谈判方式解决南海有关争议，是菲律宾方面背弃了承诺。中方与菲方进行谈判的大门始终是敞开的。两国曾经就增进互信、管控分歧、推进海上合作进行过密切接触和多轮磋商。菲方从来没有就其提起仲裁涉及的任何一项诉求事项同中方进行过任何谈判。所谓已经“穷尽双边手段”这一说法，完全是菲方对国际社会撒的一个谎言。
A: China and the Philippines have agreed to solve the South China Sea disputes through negotiation as defined in a serious of bilateral and multilateral documents, and it is the Philippines that dishonored its own commitment. The door for negotiation is always open to the Philippines. There have been close communication and multiple rounds of consultation between China and the Philippines on strengthening mutual trust, managing disputes and enhancing maritime cooperation. The Philippines has never negotiated with China at all on any single item in the arbitration. “Exhausting all bilateral means” is only a lie cooked up by the Philippines.
问：昨天，俄罗斯外交部长拉夫罗夫表示，希望日内瓦叙利亚问题和谈5月重启。你认为5月日内瓦和谈会不会重启？中方如何评价叙利亚反对派和政府的直接对话？
Q: Yesterday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed his hope for the resumption of Syrian peace talks at Geneva in May. What do you think of the possibility of the resumption of peace talks in May? How do you comment on the direct dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition?
答：我们支持俄罗斯方面提出的早日恢复叙利亚和谈的倡议。我们始终认为政治解决是叙利亚问题的唯一现实出路。在这一进程当中，会有一些困难和挫折，但是我们应该坚持这条道路，叙利亚有关各方应该维护来之不易的停火局面，继续为叙利亚问题的政治解决营造有利条件。中方愿与俄罗斯等有关各方共同努力，推动叙利亚问题的政治解决进程。
A: We support Russia’s proposal to resume Syrian peace talks at an early date. It is our consistent position that political settlement is the only realistic way out of the Syrian issue. We must stick to this path despite difficulties and setbacks that may occur along the way. Relevant parties in Syria should uphold the hard-won ceasefire, and work continuously to create favorable conditions for the political settlement of the Syrian issue. China is willing to work in concert with Russia and relevant parties to move forward the political process of the Syrian issue.
问：近日，美国国际宗教自由委员会发布2016年度报告，继续将中国列为“特别关注国”。你对此有何评论？
Q: The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom released its 2016 Annual Report, which once again designates China as a “country of particular concern”. How do you comment?
答：中国政府充分尊重并依法保障公民的宗教信仰自由，中国公民依法享有充分的宗教信仰自由权利。美方无视客观事实，年复一年发表此类报告，歪曲和攻击中国的宗教政策和状况，中方对此坚决反对，已向美方提出严正交涉。我们要求美方尊重事实、摒弃偏见，客观公正看待中国的宗教政策和宗教信仰自由状况，停止利用宗教问题干涉中国内政。同时，美方应多反省自身存在的问题，不要总是对别国指手画脚。
A: The Chinese government fully respects and safeguards Chinese citizens’ freedom of religious belief. Chinese citizens are entitled to the right of religious freedom under the law. The US side issues such report year after year irrespective of the fact, distorting and attacking China’s religion policies and realities. China is firmly opposed to this and has lodged solemn representations with the US. We ask the US side to respect the fact, discard prejudice, take an objective and fair look at China’s religion policies and freedom of religious belief, and stop interfering in China’s domestic affairs with the tool of religion. The US side should do more to reflect on its own problems, instead of pointing fingers at others.
问：中方如何看待土耳其在解决叙利亚问题上的作用？
Q: How does China see Turkey’s role in resolving the Syrian issue?
答：叙利亚问题的政治解决符合叙利亚人民的根本利益，也符合国际社会的共同愿望。我们希望国际社会有关各方都能够助力叙利亚问题的政治解决，为此发挥建设性作用。
A: Resolving the Syrian issue through political means meets the fundamental interests of the Syrian people and the common aspiration of the international community. We hope relevant parties of the international community would all put in efforts for the political settlement of the Syrian issue and play a constructive role to this end.
