Will not accept UN tribunal verdict on SCS: China

“The Arbitral Tribunal in the South China Sea, (SCS) arbitration established at the unilateral request of the Republic of the Philippines claimed that it would issue the so-called final award on 12 July 2016,” a statement issued by Chinaese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

“I hereby once again emphasise that the Arbitral Tribunal has no jurisdiction over the case and the relevant subject-matter, and that it should not have heard the case or rendered the award,” he said. His comments came after the tribunal said it will hand down a ruling on the case on July 12. 

China claims all most all of the SCS. Its claim is firmly contested by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan which have overlapping claims over the area.

In his statement Hong said the Philippines unilaterally initiated the arbitration in 2013.

“The Chinese government immediately declared that it would neither accept nor participate in the arbitration initiated by the Philippines, a position that has since been repeatedly reiterated,” he said.

Subsequently, China also questioned the legality of the arbitration saying that “has no jurisdiction over the case, and that the Chinese government’s non-acceptance of and non-participation in the arbitration are solidly founded in international law”.

Ahead of the verdict of the tribunal several Chinese officials said openly that the judgement may go against China’s stand. But the tribunal constituted under the UN Convention on Law of Seas (UNCLOS) has continued with its proceedings. Beijing had launched massive campaign to gain diplomatic support for its stand by approaching various Asian, African and Latin American countries to back its stand.