China has reaffirmed its firm rejection of the South China Sea arbitration ruling through a new report released on Thursday. The report emphasizes that the ruling severely damages the international legal order and maritime governance, further complicating the situation in the region.
Compiled by the Huayang Center for Marine Cooperation and Ocean Governance, the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, and the Chinese Society of International Law, the report delves into the political background of the arbitration tribunal and outlines what it describes as historical errors in the ruling.
Eight years after the unilateral arbitration initiated by the Philippines, the report argues that the ruling has not resolved territorial and maritime disputes but has instead intensified tensions. It criticizes the ruling for undermining the integrity and balance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), eroding confidence in its dispute resolution mechanisms.
“The arbitration ruling has not only failed to bring peace and stability to the South China Sea but has also disrupted the regional order,” the report states.
The document provides legal interpretations on historical rights and the status of islands and archipelagos, and scrutinizes jurisdictional issues related to the arbitration. It aims to expose what it sees as errors in the ruling and its detrimental impact on the international legal order.
Furthermore, the report condemns certain countries, both within and beyond the region, for endorsing the arbitration ruling. It views this support as a strategic misjudgment intended to bolster unilateral claims and disrupt China’s relations with ASEAN countries.
Reaffirming China’s stance, the report declares that the Chinese government will continue to adhere to its policy of “non-participation” and “non-acceptance,” and will not recognize the ruling or accept any claims or actions based on it.
China calls for disputes in the South China Sea to be resolved through negotiation and for crises to be managed through rule-based approaches.
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China reaffirms its rejection of South China Sea arbitration ruling
cgtn.com
