China rejects Hague judgement on South China Sea, terms it null and void
Beijing: Beijing "does not accept and does not recognise" the ruling by an UN-backed tribunal on its dispute with the Philippines over the South China Sea, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.
The declaration in a statement on its website followed a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague that China has no historic rights to its claimed "nine-dash line".
"The award is null and void and has no binding force," the ministry said. "China neither accepts nor recognises it."
Beijing "does not accept any means of third party dispute settlement or any solution imposed on China," it added, reiterating its long-standing position on the dispute.
China has repeatedly denied the tribunal's authority to rule on the dispute with the Philippines over the strategically vital region, claiming that the court's actions are illegal and biased against it. Beijing refused the opportunity to defend its position before the body.
"China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea shall under no circumstances be affected by those awards," the statement said, adding that "China opposes and will never accept any claim or action based on those awards."
Philippines 'welcomes' South China Sea ruling
Philippines welcomes the ruling that declares China has no historic rights in the South China Sea, Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said, as he urged restraint.
"The Philippines welcomes the issuance today on the arbitration proceedings initiated by the Philippines with regard to the South China Sea," Yasay told reporters minutes after the court in The Hague released its verdict.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration said the tribunal ruled there was no legal basis for China to claim "historic rights" to resources within the South China Sea falling within its claimed nine-dash line, which is based on a Chinese map dating back to the 1940s.
"Our experts are studying the award with the care and thoroughness that this significant arbitral outcome deserves. In the meantime, we call on all those concerned to exercise restraint and sobriety," Yasay said.
"The Philippines strongly affirms its respect for this milestone decision as an important contribution to ongoing efforts in addressing disputes in the South China Sea", says Yasay. He added the decision upheld international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
