South China Sea: US-Philippines treaty covers Chinese attack, Blinken says

China says international ruling regarding the resource-rich waterway are a ‘waste of paper’ containing obvious errors and its sovereignty will not be affected

Statement coincides with anniversary of 2016 international tribunal ruling in favour of Manila’s territorial claims

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The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier conducts regular ‘freedom of navigation’ exercises in the South China Sea. Photo: Handout

Sarah Zhengin Hong KongandJun Maiin Beijing

Published: 12:36pm, 12 Jul 2021Updated: 11:41pm, 12 Jul 2021

Five years after an international ruling dismissing most of China’s claims in the South China Sea, Beijing has slammed the decision as a “waste of paper” while Washington has reaffirmed its commitment to defend the Philippines against a Chinese attack in the disputed waters.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Monday there were “obvious” errors in the fact-finding and legal application of the ruling, and that the US should first ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) before pointing fingers at China.

“The South China Sea arbitration ruling is illegal and an invalid waste of paper,” Zhao said. “China’s sovereignty and interests will not be affected by the ruling a bit, and China does not accept any claims or action based on the ruling.

“The US is again politicising the issue of the South China Sea at the fifth anniversary of the illegal ruling – its political intentions are known to all.”

Zhao said the US had conducted close surveillance of the region 2,000 times and conducted about 20 large-scale navy drills with intentions against China this year alone.