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：在南海问题上，希望日本反思，否则将更加孤立
新华社北京７月２８日电 外交部发言人陆慷２８日表示，在南海问题上，希望日本冷静冷静，认真反思为何自己成了极少数。如果日方在错误的道路上越走越远，失望只会越来越多，只能更加自我孤立。
有记者问，东亚合作系列外长会结束后，日本一些媒体报道称，虽然中日双方在南海问题上仍处于“平行线”状态，但日本今后将继续与国际社会合作，敦促中方遵守国际法，接受南海仲裁结果，请问中方对此有何评论？
"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.
陆慷说：“我们注意到了日本一些媒体的上述评论，也注意到了东亚合作系列外长会后日本官方的一些表态。我想提醒日方一些人的是，在南海问题上，日方不仅是与中方处于‘平行线’状态，事实上是越来越孤立地与国际社会多数成员处于‘平行线’状态。”
陆慷说，此次东亚合作系列外长会上，中国同东盟国家一致同意南海问题尽快回到对话协商解决争议的轨道上来。中国同东盟国家专门发表了“全面有效落实《南海各方行为宣言》的联合声明”，进一步明确了双方处理南海问题的共识，即围绕南海地区存在的具体争议，应该由直接当事方通过对话和双边谈判和平解决，而本地区的稳定应由中国和东盟共同维护。此次与会的绝大多数国家都不提所谓仲裁案，都主张所谓南海问题应该尽快降温，都赞同有关当事方通过直接谈判协商解决争议。
“我们曾指出，所谓仲裁案结果出来后，日本表现得比任何国家都激动。我们有点儿费解的是，面对国际社会多数成员这么明确的态度，面对南海沿岸各国包括当事国的积极合作精神，日方一些人仍然不甘心走出自己臆想的局面，让人看起来有点儿‘哀莫大于心不死’。”他说。
陆慷表示，日方表示今后将继续与国际社会合作。那么，日方可能有必要首先搞清楚，什么是国际社会？国际社会在南海问题上究竟是什么立场？目前８０多个国家和国际、地区组织从不同角度对中方立场表示理解和支持，而只有那么两三个国家仍在自说自话地嘟囔这个所谓仲裁有“法律约束力”，“符合国际法”。从维护国际法的尊严和严肃性的角度出发，希望这几个个别国家能够遵从国际社会大多数国家的公正立场，而不是让国际社会多数成员迁就几个个别国家的错误立场。
对于敦促中方遵守国际法，接受仲裁结果，陆慷提醒日方，这两者是矛盾的。这个所谓的仲裁从一开始就是非法的、无效的，严重违背国际法和仲裁一般实践。就中方而言，中方一向并将继续坚定维护真正的国际法。希望日方也能真正尊重国际法和国际秩序，而不是肆意曲解篡改国际规则。
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."
“日方有些人可能对此次东亚合作系列外长会的结果感到失望。实际上，这些人最近对一系列多边场合的结果都失望。希望他们冷静冷静，认真反思为何自己成了极少数。如果他们在错误的道路上越走越远，失望只会越来越多，只能更加自我孤立。”陆慷说。
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.
“作为日本的近邻，我们真诚希望日方能够正视现实，正视历史大势，遵守国际法，遵守国际规则和秩序，做真正有利于本地区和平、稳定、和谐与繁荣的事，而不是相反。”他说。
(Note: The above is the same story reported in English and Chinese respectively, and is not literal translation.)
