BEIJING: China on Sunday again rejected an attempt by the Philippines to challenge its vast territorial claims over the South China Sea through international arbitration, a week before a deadline for Beijing to respond to the case. China prefers to settle its disputes in discussions with the countries directly involved. However, after China took control of Scarborough Shoal following a tense naval standoff with the Philippines near its coastline, Manila filed a case with a tribunal operating under the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea. It provides a regulatory framework for the use of the worlds seas and oceans. Xu Hong, director general of the foreign ministrys department of treaty and law, said the Philippines was obstinately pushing forward arbitration procedures and urged it to negotiate with Beijing instead. He told reporters that China was committed to rejecting and not participating in the arbitration proceedings. However the arbitration works, it wont change the history or the facts of Chinas sovereignty over the South China Sea islands as well as the adjacent waters, Xu said. The document released Sunday elaborates on Chinas previous arguments that territorial sovereignty is beyond the scope of the tribunal. It said Chinas rejection of arbitration is in line with international law and that China and the Philippines have previously agreed to settle territorial disputes through negotiations.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 17:22:45 +0000
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