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MOSCOW, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The dispute over the South China Sea should not damage the strong relationship between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a Russian expert said.
"There is a free trade zone with a turnover of hundreds of billions of dollars between China and ASEAN countries. It is important that the existing mutual interests are not interrupted by the dispute, as any conflict in the Asia-Pacific would affect the regional economy and politics," Vladimir Petrovsky, chief research fellow at the Center for Russian-Chinese Relations Studies and Forecasting at the Moscow-based Institute for Far Eastern Studies, told Xinhua in a recent interview.
The tribunal handling the South China Sea arbitration case issued its award on Tuesday, amid a global chorus that the panel has no jurisdiction.
The five-member tribunal offered a summary of its decisions, which sweepingly side with the claims filed by the administration of former Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III.
Beijing said Tuesday it neither accepts nor recognizes the award.
This is the only reasonable position from the point of view of international law, the expert said.
There have been few case of a country being dragged into an arbitration over a territorial dispute, he said. He added that if the Philippines recognized the ruling and China did not, the arbitration should not be recognized as legitimate and legal.
Commenting on the U.S. claims of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, Petrovsky noted that Washington's role is very ambiguous.
The United States says it favors freedom of navigation; however, what that really means is not only free of navigation for commercial fleet but also for its Navy, which is quite a different thing, Petrovsky said.
Although the Philippines would try to use the U.S. military as a lever in its island dispute with China, Petrovsky believes it may not be wise to do so.
"The United States with its system of bilateral military-political alliances in the Asia-Pacific region has found itself in an awkward position: by contract it is supposed to protect its allies, but why should they spoil relations with China for the sake of the Philippines?" Petrovsky said.
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BEIJING, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China on Wednesday published a white paper titled "China Adheres to the Position of Settling Through Negotiation the Relevant Disputes Between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea".
Following is the full text of the white paper: Full story
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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