China has reiterated its position that the arbitral award rendered by the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration on the South China Sea case in favor of the Philippines is “null and void” and “violates international law.”
In a press briefing on Wednesday, Wang Wenbin, spokesman of China’s Foreign Ministry, said that “China neither accepts nor recognizes it and will never accept any claim or action based on the award.”
Wang issued the statement after the Philippines described as “final” and “indisputable” the arbitral ruling during the country’s celebration of the 6th anniversary of the arbitral ruling.
The United States, among other countries, also supported the Philippines’ position by citing the same arbitral ruling as well as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
.Wang also said that the Chinese government also “received broad understanding and support from the international community.”
The Chinese official issued a warning that “those who attempt to infringe on China’s sovereignty, rights and interests by implementing this illegal award will not succeed.”
“China will respond to such attempts in accordance with law,” Wang said.
With the Chinese government advancing its activities on the still disputed waters, Wang said China and the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are “fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and working actively to advance the consultations on a code of conduct in the South China Sea.”
According to him, all sides already agreed “that the South China Sea issue should be handled following the dual-track approach.”
Among those that were supposedly agreed were maritime disputes that should be handled properly by countries directly concerned through dialogue and consultation, and that peace and stability should be jointly safeguarded by China and ASEAN countries.