BEIJING, July 28 (Xinhua) -- China said on Thursday that Japan should reflect why it has become the "small minority" on the South China Sea issue, otherwise it will get increasingly disappointed and isolated.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the comment in response to Japanese media reports that Japan will continue to work with the international community to urge China to comply with international law and accept the "award" of the South China Sea arbitration.
外交部：在南海問題上，希望日本反思，否則將更加孤立
新華社北京７月２８日電 外交部發言人陸慷２８日表示，在南海問題上，希望日本冷靜冷靜，認真反思為何自己成了極少數。如果日方在錯誤的道路上越走越遠，失望只會越來越多，只能更加自我孤立。
有記者問，東亞合作係列外長會結束後，日本一些媒體報道稱，雖然中日雙方在南海問題上仍處于“平行線”狀態，但日本今後將繼續與國際社會合作，敦促中方遵守國際法，接受南海仲裁結果，請問中方對此有何評論？
"Japan seems reluctant to give up its fancy of forcing China to accept the so-called award, despite the South China Sea littoral states, including the claimants, have expressed willingness to cooperate with China," Lu said.
During the foreign ministers' meeting between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Lao capital of Vientiane this week, China and ASEAN have agreed the South China Sea disputes should be resolved peacefully through dialogue between directly concerned countries.
Most of the members attending the meeting made no mention of the South China Sea arbitration but advocated the issue should cool down as soon as possible, Lu said.
More than 80 countries and international organizations have expressed understanding and support to China's stance on the South China Sea disputes. Only a couple of countries are uttering the "award" is "legally binding and in compliance with international law," the spokesperson said.
Lu said the few countries should follow the impartial position of the majority of the international community rather than the majority compromises to the minority.
The "award" is invalid from the beginning and runs counter to international law and arbitral practices. China has always safeguarded the international law and hopes Japan will do the same, instead of misinterpreting and distorting the international rules, Lu said.
陸慷説：“我們注意到了日本一些媒體的上述評論，也注意到了東亞合作係列外長會後日本官方的一些表態。我想提醒日方一些人的是，在南海問題上，日方不僅是與中方處于‘平行線’狀態，事實上是越來越孤立地與國際社會多數成員處于‘平行線’狀態。”
陸慷説，此次東亞合作係列外長會上，中國同東盟國家一致同意南海問題盡快回到對話協商解決爭議的軌道上來。中國同東盟國家專門發表了“全面有效落實《南海各方行為宣言》的聯合聲明”，進一步明確了雙方處理南海問題的共識，即圍繞南海地區存在的具體爭議，應該由直接當事方通過對話和雙邊談判和平解決，而本地區的穩定應由中國和東盟共同維護。此次與會的絕大多數國家都不提所謂仲裁案，都主張所謂南海問題應該盡快降溫，都讚同有關當事方通過直接談判協商解決爭議。
“我們曾指出，所謂仲裁案結果出來後，日本表現得比任何國家都激動。我們有點兒費解的是，面對國際社會多數成員這麼明確的態度，面對南海沿岸各國包括當事國的積極合作精神，日方一些人仍然不甘心走出自己臆想的局面，讓人看起來有點兒‘哀莫大于心不死’。”他説。
陸慷表示，日方表示今後將繼續與國際社會合作。那麼，日方可能有必要首先搞清楚，什麼是國際社會？國際社會在南海問題上究竟是什麼立場？目前８０多個國家和國際、地區組織從不同角度對中方立場表示理解和支援，而只有那麼兩三個國家仍在自説自話地嘟囔這個所謂仲裁有“法律約束力”，“符合國際法”。從維護國際法的尊嚴和嚴肅性的角度出發，希望這幾個個別國家能夠遵從國際社會大多數國家的公正立場，而不是讓國際社會多數成員遷就幾個個別國家的錯誤立場。
對于敦促中方遵守國際法，接受仲裁結果，陸慷提醒日方，這兩者是矛盾的。這個所謂的仲裁從一開始就是非法的、無效的，嚴重違背國際法和仲裁一般實踐。就中方而言，中方一向並將繼續堅定維護真正的國際法。希望日方也能真正尊重國際法和國際秩序，而不是肆意曲解篡改國際規則。
Some people in Japan might be disappointed with the outcomes of the ASEAN-related foreign ministers' meetings. Indeed, they have been disappointed with the results of other multilateral events too, Lu said.
He urged these people to calm down and reflect why they have become the small minority on the South China Sea issue. "If they go farther and farther in the wrong way, they will get increasingly disappointed and isolated."
“日方有些人可能對此次東亞合作係列外長會的結果感到失望。實際上，這些人最近對一係列多邊場合的結果都失望。希望他們冷靜冷靜，認真反思為何自己成了極少數。如果他們在錯誤的道路上越走越遠，失望只會越來越多，只能更加自我孤立。”陸慷説。
China hopes Japan can face reality and historical trend, comply with international law and order, and contribute to regional peace, stability, harmony and prosperity rather than the opposite, the spokesperson added.
“作為日本的近鄰，我們真誠希望日方能夠正視現實，正視歷史大勢，遵守國際法，遵守國際規則和秩序，做真正有利于本地區和平、穩定、和諧與繁榮的事，而不是相反。”他説。
(Note: The above is the same story reported in English and Chinese respectively, and is not literal translation.)
