The Chinese foreign ministry has dismissed accusations against China on the South China Sea issue by certain countries.

Relevant countries’ groundless accusations and deliberate smears against China on the South China Sea issue are unacceptable, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a regular news briefing when asked to comment on a statement issued by the U.S., Japan and the Philippines after their trilateral summit. The statement expressed so-called “serious concerns about China’s behavior in the South China Sea” and called on China to abide by the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal.

Lin said China strongly opposes the practice of bloc politics by said countries, firmly opposes any acts that stoke and drive up tensions and harm other countries’ strategic security and interests, and is seriously against forming exclusive groupings in this region.

Noting that the award of the South China Sea Arbitration is illegal, null and void, he said China did not accept or take part in the Arbitration, does not accept or acknowledge the so-called award, and much less does China accept any claim or action that is based on the award.

Lin said the South China Sea Arbitration and its illegal award harm the interests of countries in the region, including the Philippines.

“No matter how some may try to frame the South China Sea issue, the issue remains what it is,” Lin said, adding that no political manipulation disguised as legal moves will go anywhere or deter China from safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Lin said China will continue to firmly safeguard its lawful rights in accordance with domestic and international laws. “We urge relevant countries to be sober-minded and change course instead of going further down the wrong path,” he added.

Source(s): CGTN

Israel and Iran traded threats on Tuesday after Tehran’s first-ever direct attack on Israel heightened regional tensions as the conflict in Gaza continues with no truce in sight.

Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Iran would not get off “scot-free” after Tehran and its allies launched a barrage of over 300 missiles, drones and rockets at Israel at the weekend.

“We cannot stand still from this kind of aggression,” Hagari said, a day after Israel’s military chief vowed there would be “a response” to Iran’s offensive.

Iran said its attack was an act of self-defense following a deadly Israeli air strike on its consulate in Syria, and that it would consider the matter “concluded” unless Israel retaliated.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned that “the slightest action against Iran’s interests will definitely be met with a severe, extensive and painful response.”

The White House on Tuesday announced new sanctions on Iran, with measures targeting the Islamic Republic’s missile and drone program.

“In the coming days, the United States will impose new sanctions targeting Iran, including its missile and drone program as well as new sanctions against entities supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s Defense Ministry,” U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement.

Meanwhile, multiple countries, including China, Russia and the UK, have urged restraint and de-escalation.

Despite the regional tensions, Israel has continued to bomb targets in Gaza, which has been largely devastated by more than six months of fighting and a siege on its 2.4 million people.

Israeli tanks pushed back into parts of the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday which they had left weeks ago, while warplanes conducted air strikes on Rafah, the Palestinians’ last refuge in the south of the territory, killing and wounding several people, Palestinian medics and residents said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told new army recruits on Tuesday that Israeli forces were fighting Hamas “without mercy.”

After more than six months of fighting, there is still no sign of any breakthrough in talks led by Qatar and Egypt to clinch a ceasefire deal in Gaza, as Israel and Hamas stick to their mutually irreconcilable conditions.

While there is still a long way to go to realize a truce plan, Israel and the UN agencies contradicted with each other on the amount of humanitarian aid now entering Gaza. Israel and the U.S. said the aid flows have risen in recent days, but UN agencies said it is still far below bare minimum levels.

Israel’s military said it had facilitated the entry of 126 trucks into northern Gaza late on Monday from the south. It also said it was working in collaboration with the World Food Program (WFP) to facilitate the opening of two more bakeries in northern Gaza after the first began operations on Monday with WFP help.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said there had been “no significant change” in the amount of humanitarian relief entering Gaza, even after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to allow in more aid.

The UN said it would launch an appeal on Wednesday for $2.8 billion to help Gaza, as well as the West Bank.

Source(s): CGTN

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, held phone talks on Monday regarding the tensions between Israel and Iran.

Amir-Abdollahian briefed Wang on Iran’s position on the attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, saying that the UN Security Council did not make a necessary response to this attack, and that Iran has the right to self-defense in response to the violation of its sovereignty.

Noting that the current regional situation is very sensitive, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran is willing to exercise restraint and has no intention of further escalating the situation.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China strongly condemns and firmly opposes the attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, regarding it as a serious violation of international law and unacceptable.

China has noted Iran’s statement that its action taken was limited and was an act of self-defense in response to the attack against the Iranian consulate in Syria, Wang said.

China appreciates Iran’s stress on not targeting regional and neighboring countries, as well as its reiteration on continuously pursuing a good-neighborly and friendly policy, he said.

It is believed that Iran can handle the situation well and spare the region from further turmoil while safeguarding its own sovereignty and dignity, he added.

Wang also stated that the current situation is the spillover of the Gaza conflict and the pressing task now is to quickly implement UN Security Council Resolution 2728 and end the Gaza conflict to protect civilians and prevent further aggravation of humanitarian disasters.

China is willing to maintain communication with Iran for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue, Wang added.

Source(s): CGTN