ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Reiterating its support to China on ‘South China Sea’, Pakistan on Tuesday opposed any imposition of unilateral will on others, and we respect China’s statement of optional exception in light of Article 298 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In response to a question regarding the South China Sea, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nafees Zakria stated that Pakistan maintained that disputes over the South China Sea should be peacefully resolved, through consultations and negotiations by states directly concerned, in accordance with bilateral agreements and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
The Spokesperson added that Pakistan believes that maintenance of peace and security was the collective responsibility of all parties to the South China Sea.
Countries outside the region should fully respect efforts made by China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, and play a constructive role to this end, he added.
