Chinese ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming said the arbitration by the tribunal will set a “serious, wrong, and bad example” if it is allowed to go through. Philippines, one of the five countries disputing Chinese ownership of the islands and sea areas, has moved the arbitration tribunal. China claims 90 per cent ownership of the sea.
China’s government backed media is carrying articles and interviews by experts suggesting that Beijing should consider quitting the UNCLOS. China believes that the issue of its territorial integrity is not under the jurisdiction of the tribunal.
The Chinese navy is at present conducting a military exercise in the region, which is seen as a warning signal to its sea neighbours.
The verdict by The Hague based tribunal is widely expected to go against China. Beijing fears that it might encourage other countries in the region including Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia to file similar suits in the tribunal. These countries are in territorial disputes with China over the ownership of the islands and sea areas.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi this week warned US secretary of state John Kerry against any attempt by Washington to encourage its neighbors to cause disturbances in the South China Sea area after the verdict. China expects that the US “speaks and acts cautiously, and takes no action that harm China’s sovereignty and security interests.”
Chinese authorities have failed to obtain direct support on its case from Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary general, who visited Beijing this week.
A total of 167 countries and groups including India, China and the European Union have joined the convention. The United States has not ratified it.
“Some people try to label China as not respecting international law if we reject this arbitration. But that is totally wrong. What China is doing is exactly safeguarding the authority and seriousness of international law, safeguarding the letter and spirit of UNCLOS,” Reuters quoted Chinese ambassador Liu.
Whatever the tribunal’s verdict, “it has no impact on China and China’s sovereignty over these islands and reefs will not be bound by it,” Liu argued.
“We will not fight in the court, but we will certainly fight for our sovereignty,” he stressed.
China is ready for bilateral discussions on the issue with Philippines but would not listen to the verdict of the tribunal, he said.
Source:- TNN
The post China prepares to reject UN body verdict on South China Sea appeared first on Defence Update.
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