Update | China defiant after international tribunal sets date to announce its ruling on nation’s claims in South China Sea
Foreign Ministry statement repeats Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has no jurisdiction to rule in the matter and Beijing will rejects its findings
China remained defiant on Thursday over a looming ruling on territorial claims in the South China Sea, repeating that it would not accept an international tribunal’s decision set to be handed down later this month.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague said on Wednesday that it would deliver its findings on July 12.
Foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement that the arbitration court had no jurisdiction in the matter and should not have heard the case. “With regard to territorial issues and maritime delimitation disputes, China does not accept any means of third party dispute settlement or any solution imposed on China,” the statement said.
China has refused to take part in the case which was brought by the Philippines, a rival claimant to territory in the South China Sea.
Beijing argues that any territorial disputes in the sea should be solved through direct negotiations between the nations involved.