On July 14, 2023 local time, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi attended the series of foreign ministers' meetings on East Asia cooperation in Jakarta. He refuted the South China Sea arbitration and the so-called freedom of navigation mentioned by certain countries, and made clear China's principled position on the South China Sea issue.

Wang Yi said that the South China Sea is one of the safest and freest waters for navigation in the world today. Never have any merchant ships complained of interference or obstruction when passing through the waters. There is no need for certain countries to express meaningless concerns. China and littoral states of the South China Sea observe international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), but will never accept any moves to seek naval dominance in the name of freedom of navigation. China has always advocated that disputes should be settled peacefully by the parties directly concerned through friendly consultation. This principle has also been included in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and external interference, China and regional countries have successfully completed the second reading of the draft text of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), and will work together to make the COC an effective and substantive regional norm that is consistent with international law. Through these efforts, peace and stability in the South China Sea will be better safeguarded, and the legitimate rights and interests of non-regional countries will also be effectively guaranteed.

Wang Yi expressed the hope that non-regional countries will respect the efforts made by China and ASEAN, and play a positive role in maintaining regional stability, rather than the opposite. Non-regional countries should stop sending many advanced ships and aircraft here to flex muscles, stop provoking and exploiting the differences between regional countries for their own geopolitical interests and selfish gains, and stop making groundless comments without understanding the realities. They are in no position to lecture China and ASEAN, and the two sides have full confidence, wisdom, and ability to handle the South China Sea issue through joint efforts and build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation.

Wang Yi stressed that the South China Sea arbitration is apparently a political manipulation, deviating from the original intention of the UNCLOS. With obvious flaws in fact-finding and application of laws, the case has been widely questioned by international law experts. China did not take part in the case from the very beginning and will never accept it. China urges certain countries to stop turning back the wheel of history and stop playing up the outdated “old drama”.