Beijing has once again dismissed the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling, maintaining that the landmark decision holds no legal weight and remains invalid.
The statement from the Chinese Embassy in Manila on Thursday, September 17, came after Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski, Poland’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, expressed support for the Philippines and asserted that China is obligated to honor the ruling.
Addressing the Polish official’s remarks, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng strongly condemned the arbitral decision.
“The so-called arbitral award violates the basic principles of international law, including state consent and pacta sunt servanda, breaches the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and disregards the basic facts of the South China Sea,” Ji said.
Handed down on July 12, 2016, the ruling was the culmination of a case filed by the Philippines in 2013 under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Managed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), the proceedings addressed maritime entitlements, historic rights, and alleged violations in the contested waters. Beijing boycotted the entire legal process and consistently refused to participate.
Calling the decision “nothing more than a piece of waste paper,” Ji reaffirmed Beijing’s long-standing refusal to acknowledge the tribunal’s findings.
“China does not accept or recognize it, and opposes and does not accept any claim or action thereon based,” he added.
The Chinese Embassy also criticized Warsaw’s involvement, stressing that the European nation has no role in the maritime dispute.
“Poland is not a party to the South China Sea issue,” Ji stated.
He further warned Poland to “exercise prudence in its words and deeds” rather than backing a ruling that Beijing considers illegitimate.