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Chinese Embassy says 2016 arbitral ruling just a 'political circus' 

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Chinese Embassy says 2016 arbitral ruling just a 'political circus'

ABS-CBN News

<div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17208586694681712637823541viber_image_2024-04-09_12-14-54-498.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="In this file photo, activist groups condemn China’s incursion into the country’s waters and its use of water cannons against Philippine ships. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"></span></span></span></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">In this file photo, activist groups condemn China’s incursion into the country’s waters and its use of water cannons against Philippine ships. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></p><div><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">MANILA — The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines on Saturday stressed that China does not and will not recognize the 2016 Hague ruling on the South China Sea, which it called “a political circus dressed up as a legal action.”</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">China, which has been pushing bilateral talks to settle issues in the South China Sea, said the Philippines broke the 2012 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea by filing an arbitration case instead of having “consultations and negotiations between sovereign states directly concerned.”</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/2/china-ph-agree-to-deescalate-tensions-in-west-philippine-sea-1855">READ: China, PH agree to ease tensions in West Philippine Sea</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The 2016 ruling found that China’s nine-dash line claim over a large part of the South China Sea — including the West Philippine Sea in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf — has no basis in international law.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">It also said that Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag, Scarborough Shoal) is a traditional fishing ground that China should not block access to.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“The arbitral tribunal in the South China Sea Arbitration exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires and made an illegitimate ruling. The award thus rendered is illegal, null and void. China does not accept or recognize it, and will never accept any claim or action thereon,” the embassy also said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x-GLslNsrxo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px">The Philippines has been gathering support from treaty ally the United States and from security partners, including the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Japan, which have called out aggressive Chinese maneuvers and the use of water cannons in the West Philippine Sea.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">They have also emphasized that the ruling is binding despite China’s objections.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The embassy said these countries and the Philippines are part of a “small circle of the west ganging up against China. “</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/17/us-japan-condemn-china-s-repeated-dangerous-aggressive-actions-vs-ph-2352">RELATED: US, Japan condemn China’s ‘repeated dangerous, aggressive actions’ vs PH</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The Philippines on Friday marked the 8th anniversary of the Hague ruling, with officials promising the country will “stand our ground” in the West Philippine Sea.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the arbitral award was a &quot;testament to our unwavering commitment to the rule of law and the peaceful settlement of disputes.&quot;</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The DFA said that despite &quot;unlawful actions which have caused serious incidents&quot; in the South China Sea, the Philippines has continued to &quot;demonstrate this commitment to peace.&quot;</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The Department of National Defense meanwhile said it will continue to safeguard Philippine interests in the West Philippine Sea.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Ginagawa po namin araw-araw - pinagsisikapan po namin na mapangalagaan ang teritoryo at sovereign rights ng ating bansa upang makinabang ang Republika ng Pilipinas, at hindi ano mang bansa, sa likas na yaman na itinakda ng International Law sa ilalim ng recognized na batas na kinikilala ng maraming bansa, hindi po tulad ng naratibo ng ibang mga bansa na sila lang po ang naniniwala,&quot; Defense Secvretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Friday.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">(We work every day to protect the country’s territory and the Republic of the Philippines’ sovereign rights to the natural resources, which are under international law that is recognized by many nations, and not just the narrative of other nations that only they believe.)</p><div><br/></div><p>The Philippines has stepped up engagement with the US and with other nations — including joint maritime exercises — amid tension with China.</p><p>The Philippines and Japan earlier this week signed a <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/8/why-the-philippine-japan-defense-pact-matters-1820">Reciprocal Access Agreement</a> that would allow troops from either country to visit, train, and hold joint exercises.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hkAigXbxMUo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Philippines on Friday marked the 8th anniversary of the Hague ruling, with officials promising the country will “stand our ground” in the West Philippine Sea.</p>

The Philippines on Friday marked the 8th anniversary of the Hague ruling, with officials promising the country will “stand our ground” in the West Philippine Sea.