China on Thursday, Dec. 22, said it will not occupy nor reclaim uninhabited islands and reefs of the Spratly Islands as it maintained it “always abides” by a declaration it agreed on with Southeast Asian countries. Mao Ning, spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, said in a press conference that “refraining from action” on the land features of the Spratly (Nansha) Islands “is a serious common understanding reached by China and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nation) countries in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).”

Pedrajas, J., & Recuenco, A. B. (2022, December 23). China won't occupy Spratlys. Manila Bulletin, pp. 1, 10.