People's Daily:

Why did China issue a white paper particularly focusing on the disputes in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines? What message do you expect to transmit through the white paper?

Liu Zhenmin:

The white paper issued by the Chinese government is intended to convey several messages and state clearly several points of views. Firstly, we would like to clarify some facts. Many facts were twisted and many legal principles were misinterpreted by the then Philippine government in its submissions when it initiated the arbitration three and half years ago. When the arbitration tribunal heard the case, it also distorted many facts, including the distortion of law application. Therefore, our first purpose in issuing the white paper is to clarify facts, including making it explicit that China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are established in the course of history, not entirely by the UNCLOS.

Secondly, China and the Philippines had agreement on resolving through negotiation and consultation the relevant disputes. Resolving relevant disputes through negotiation is the only way out; it shows China's policy. China hopes to send a positive signal to the international community, other littoral countries around the South China Sea and especially the Philippines that negotiation is the only way to solve the disputes between China and the Philippines as well as other disputes in the South China Sea. There are no other options. Don't expect the arbitral tribunal to solve the disputes. I therefore advise all of you to read the white paper carefully.