第五，中国始终坚持以“严守底线”捍卫和平。中国坚持走和平发展道路，其他国家也要走和平发展道路，这样世界和平才有保障。中国决不会以牺牲别国利益为代价来发展自己，同时也决不会允许别国损害中国的核心利益，决不会放弃自己的正当权益。我们将坚持以国家核心利益为底线维护国家主权、安全和发展利益，坚定捍卫国家领土主权，维护国家统一，这本身也是维护和平、捍卫和平之举。

Fifth, China has safeguarded peace through holding the bottom line.

China will stay committed to peaceful development. Other countries should do the same. World peace could be ensured only if everyone adheres to peaceful development. China will never seek development at the expense of others. At the same time, China will never allow its core interests be undermined, or give up its legitimate rights and interests.

Our bottom line is the core interests of our country. We will stay firm in safeguarding our national sovereignty, unity, security and development interests. This in itself maintains and safeguards peace.

　　近来，南海问题被炒得沸沸扬扬。实际情况怎样呢？事实胜于雄辩。在中国和东盟各国共同努力下，南海形势持续向好，各方重回谈判磋商解决有关争议的正轨，中国同有关国家之间关系健康稳定发展。中国与东盟各国正在全面有效落实《南海各方行为宣言》，积极推进“南海行为准则”磋商。最近，中国与东盟各国已就“南海行为准则”单一磋商文本草案达成一致。这充分说明，地区国家有信心、有能力、有智慧妥善处理好南海问题，实现本地区长久稳定、发展与繁荣。

Take the South China Sea as an example. Despite all the recent hyping-up, the facts speak for themselves: Thanks to the concerted efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea is improving; relevant parties have returned to the right track of addressing disputes through negotiation and consultation; the relations between China and relevant countries have been sound and stable. 

China and ASEAN countries are working on the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. We are actively advancing the consultation on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). Agreement was reached between China and ASEAN countries recently on a single draft negotiating text of the COC. This has fully demonstrated that countries in the region have the confidence, capability and wisdom to deal with the South China Sea issue properly and achieve enduring stability, development and prosperity.

　　令人不解的是，一些域外大国似乎并不想看到南海风平浪静，他们派军舰和飞机不远万里来南海制造事端，放着广阔宽敞的南海航道不走，偏要打着“航行自由”旗号非法进入中国岛礁临近海域“耍枪弄棒”，侵犯中国主权，威胁中国安全，破坏地区和平稳定。事实上，南海航行自由从来不存在任何问题。南海每年十几万艘商船安全顺利通行，从没有哪艘遇到过所谓航行自由问题。中国对外贸易和能源运输60%以上通过南海，没有任何国家比中国更关心南海航行和飞越自由。中方一贯尊重和维护各国依据《联合国海洋法公约》在内的国际法，在南海享有航行和飞越自由，但前提是要尊重沿岸国的主权和安全。航行自由绝不是“横行自由”，绝不是乱闯别国领海、侵犯别国主权的自由。这样的“自由”必须制止，否则南海将无宁日。任何人都不要低估中国维护国家主权、安全和发展利益的意志，任何人都不要低估中国维护南海和平稳定的决心。

Yet to everyone's confusion, some big countries outside the region did not seem to appreciate the peace and tranquility in the South China Sea. They sent warships and aircraft all the way to the South China Sea to create trouble. Under the excuse of so-called "freedom of navigation", they ignored the vast sea lane and chose to sail into the adjacent waters of China's islands and reefs to show off their military might. This was a serious infringement upon China's sovereignty. It threatened China's security and put regional peace and stability in jeopardy.

The truth is the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea has never been a problem. Every year, hundreds of thousands of merchant vessels pass through the South China Sea safely and unimpeded. Never has there been a single case of navigation freedom being affected. With over 60% of its foreign trade and transport of energy passing through the South China Sea, China, more than any other countries, cherishes the freedom of navigation and over-flight in the South China Sea.

China has all-along respected and upheld the freedom of navigation and over-flight in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. But the precondition for such freedom is respect for the sovereignty and security of the littoral states. Freedom of navigation is not a license to do whatever one wishes. Freedom of navigation is not freedom to invade in other country's territorial waters and infringe upon other country's sovereignty. Such "freedom" must be stopped. Otherwise the South China Sea will never be tranquil.

No one should underestimate China's will to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests. No one should underestimate China's determination to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea.