Beijing says 'Arbitral Award' has no bearing on China

China urged on Saturday relevant countries to stop making reference to the illegal Arbitral Award on the South China Sea or using it as a pretext to make infringement and provocation, reiterating that the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea will not be affected by the "award".

The Foreign Ministry made the remarks in an online statement after the Philippine Foreign Ministry released a statement on the ninth anniversary of the "2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea", saying it will continue to use the "award" as a guide to assert its rights over the South China Sea.

The "award" is nothing but a piece of waste paper that is illegal, null and void, and non-binding, the online statement said, adding that the Philippine's counterproductive move will only end up backfiring.?

China neither accepts nor recognizes the "award", and will never accept any claim or action arising from the award, a spokesperson of the ministry said in the statement.

The spokesperson stressed that the "award" violates the basic principles of international law, and the common understandings reached between the two countries to peacefully settle disputes through consultation.

It violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the spokesperson said, adding that Manila disregarded Beijing's declaration and insisted on initiating the "arbitration", which was an abuse of the UNCLOS dispute settlement mechanism.

The "award" also runs counter to the basic facts related to the South China Sea, the spokesperson said, adding that the "arbitral tribunal" severely erred in ascertaining facts and applying the law, and the rendered "award" is fundamentally flawed with obvious mistakes.

China is committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes with other countries concerned through negotiation and consultation, the spokesperson stressed.

The country is also committed to joint efforts?with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, adoption of a Code of Conduct as early as possible, and robust institutional safeguards for peace and stability in the South China Sea, the spokesperson added.