Beijing, China – The Chinese military is “destined not to fear war, but will definitely cherish peace.” China’s Defense Minister Chang Wanquan said. Amid the tensions over its maritime territorial claims, China has stressed that they will defend its sovereignty on the claims of the islands in the South China Sea. Chang cited that they will defend firmly the national security and their development interest and its state sovereignty. “Territorial integrity and maritime rights and interest will be defended,” Chang said with the Xinhua News Agency at the reception on Sunday.
After its invasion of Vietnam on 1979, China has not fought a vital clash since then. The remarks of Chang has raised the tension after the ruling of the U.N. arbitration court said that China has no legal basis in claiming the islands on the West Philippine Sea. However, the decision of the arbitration was rejected by China and said that it would have no effect on its move in increasing its military and civilian footprint on the Dispute Island and vital parts of its ocean.
Looking at the recent developments in the West Philippine Sea, Where China have a rough relationship in the Philippines and with other neighboring small countries because of the conflict on the dispute islands where oil and potential gas reserves, coral reefs in the South China Sea.
On the 89th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army on Monday, Chang gave a speech on the PLA who’s a chief driver behind the construction of the man-made islands in the disputed sea. The PLA has been vastly increasing its technology, firepower and even its number of manpower in the recent years. China said that its military and the Russian forces will have joint exercises in the South China Sea this coming September to deepen their military relationships.