China: We will not accept UN court ruling

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying at a press conference on July 10, 2015
(Photo courtesy of the Chinese Foreign Ministry)

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, China will continue to stand firm on its claims and will not accept the United Nations’ court (UN) resolution on the case filed by the Philippines.

She also claims that China is the victim in the territorial disputes on the South China Sea.

“The origin and crux of the disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea lie in the territorial sovereignty disputes caused by the Philippines’ illegal occupation of some islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Islands since the 1970s,” Hua said in an official statement.

“Being a victim of the South China Sea issue, China, bearing in mind the whole situation of regional peace and stability, has been exercising utmost restraint,” she added.

Arbitration case

While the Philippines’ arbitration case is being heard at the Peace Palace in Netherlands, China continues its massive and rapid reclamation activities and infrastructure building on several contested reefs in the Spratly Islands.

With the arbitral tribunal concluding the hearing on the jurisdiction and admissibility case, the Philippines hopes to obtain favorable ruling.

China, on the other hand, continues to refuse participating in the hearings, insisting that the case has no basis as the country has ‘indisputable sovereignty’ over the South China Sea.

“China opposes any move by the Philippines to initiate and push forward the arbitral proceeding… On issues of territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, China will never accept any imposed solution or unilaterally resorting to a third-party settlement,” Hua said.

Instead, China encourages negotiation and consultation with the Philippines.

“China has always adhered to and has been committed to resolving, in accordance with international law and on the basis of respecting historical facts, relevant disputes relating to territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests with relevant states directly concerned through negotiation and consultation,” Hua said.

“This is China’s consistent practice, and also common practice of the international community.  China urges the Philippines to return to the right approach of resolving relevant disputes through negotiation and consultation as soon as possible,” she added.

Even without China’s participation in the arbitration case, the Philippines will continue with the court proceedings, not allowing the former to take full control over the Spratly Islands.

Recently, Filipino fishermen have been barred by Chinese coast guards from their old fishing grounds in the West Philippine Sea.