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THE HAGUE, July 12 (Xinhua) -- An arbitral tribunal on the South China Sea rendered ruling on Tuesday, resulting in a deluge of criticism from China and other countries.
The 479-page award issued by a five-member tribunal is sweepingly in favor of the claims filed by the administration of former Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III, which unilaterally lodged the arbitration.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a meeting with visiting European leaders on Tuesday, said that China will not accept the award, and that China's territorial sovereignty and maritime interests in the South China Sea will under no circumstances be affected by it.
Shortly after the publication of the award, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a statement that the arbitration is a political farce under the pretext of law and the ruling has no legal force at all.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately issued a statement saying it "solemnly declares that the award is null and void and has no binding force. China neither accepts nor recognizes it."
The verdict against China also drew condemnation from other countries.
A spokesman for the Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that maritime disputes in the South China Sea should be addressed in accordance with bilateral agreements and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), adding that Pakistan opposes any imposition of unilateral will on others.
The DOC calls for states directly involved in territorial and maritime disputes to resolve their differences through peaceful negotiations and was signed by China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The ministry added that it further respects a declaration China made in 2006 under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea not to involve a third party to resolve disputes over maritime delimitation.
The Thai Foreign Ministry in a statement also mentioned the DOC, adding that disputes in the South China Sea should be addressed on the basis of mutual trust to reflect the nature of the long standing ASEAN-China relations.
Scholars, too, have voiced their suspicion over the arbitration.
Saeed al-Lawindi, a political researcher and expert of international relations at Cairo-based Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, believed that the ruling is completely biased and could result in serious conflict in the region. The ruling may lead to instability instigated by the United States and other Western states, he said.
Tom Zwart, professor of law at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, told Xinhua that the award will not resolve any issues in the region because the tribunal lacked jurisdiction in its ruling.
"From the outset, critics like me said that it would be very difficult to avoid sovereignty issues (when handling the Philippines' claims)," said the professor.
"Another reason for the tribunal not to accept jurisdiction is that the S. China Sea issue is a too complicated a matter for them to decide. There are so many issues involved and some of them are outside of that jurisdiction."
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THE HAGUE, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The tribunal handling the South China Sea arbitration case unilaterally initiated by the former Philippine government issued its final award on Tuesday, sweepingly siding with Manila's cunningly packaged claims.
The process and outcome of the three-year-long arbitration have drawn criticism from dozens of countries and numerous experts across the world, who pointed out that the panel has no jurisdiction and its decision is naturally null and void. Full story
China refutes U.S. statement on South China Sea arbitration award
BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- China is strongly displeased with a press statement issued by the Spokesperson of the U.S. State Department on Tuesday on the award issued by the South China Sea arbitration tribunal unilaterally initiated by the former Philippine government.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said in a statement that China is firmly opposed to the U.S. statement and has lodged solemn representations with the U.S. side. Full story
Chinese foreign minister says South China Sea arbitration a political farce
BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The South China Sea arbitration, unilaterally initiated by the Philippines, is a political farce made under the pretext of law, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday.
Wang made the remarks after an Arbitral Tribunal handling the South China Sea arbitration case issued its final award on Tuesday. Full story
International law dishonored by illegal award on South China Sea arbitration: Chinese diplomat
THE HAGUE, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The ruling on the South China Sea arbitration issued by a court in The Hague is a disgrace to international law, Chinese Ambassador to the Netherlands Wu Ken told the press on Tuesday.
"Today is a 'black Tuesday' for The Hague, 'the capital of international law'," Wu commented. Full story
China asks Japan to stop interfering in South China Sea
BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- China has asked Japan to stop interfering in the South China Sea issue, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday.
China hopes Japan will bear in mind the terms of China-Japan relations and of regional peace and stability, and reflect on its position on South China Sea disputes, Lu Kang said. Full story
China resolved to defend territorial sovereignty, maritime interests: People's Daily
BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese people are resolved to defend the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, said the People's Daily in a commentary to be carried on Wednesday.
The tribunal handling the South China Sea arbitration case issued its award on Tuesday, amid a global chorus that the panel has no jurisdiction. Full story
Commentary: South China Sea arbitration a scar on international legal system
BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Much like a poisoned tree, which will never bear good fruit, the award issued in the South China Sea arbitration was contaminated from the start.
A belligerent claimant, a biased arbitrator and an absence of rationality: Hardly fertile ground for impartiality. Full story
