China Criticizes Manila as UN Arbitration Proceedings on Spratlys Dispute Start

China Criticizes Manila as UN Arbitration Proceedings on Spratlys Dispute Start

With the Philippines’ arbitration case moving forward before the United Nations , Beijing has criticized Manila for its legal resort to negotiate maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea ( South China Sea ) , and accused the Philippines of deviating from the stipulated guidelines of discipline , in addition to compelling tensions in the contested waters .

In powerfully worded statements , Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying considered the Philippines for its “indifference” to China’s standing and charged Manila with discrediting Beijing before the international community .“We are strongly in opposition to the Philippines’ indifference to China’s legitimate rights and interests and authentic concerns as well as its willful act of pressing for international arbitration ,” stated Hua in a statement published on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s website on Tuesday .

“It is challenging for China to figure out how the Philippines would continue to highlight the problem of the South China Sea , distort the details and smear China ,” she added . 

Hua issued the comments as a rebuff to Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA ) spokesperson’s eight-point statement on Monday , in which the official defended the Philippines’ move to seek UN arbitration to stop Chinese incursions into its maritime areas in the contested seas and invalidate China’s nine-dash line claim .

The five-member arbitral tribunal has just started procedures on the Philippines’ case at The Hague , continuing in spite of China’s refusal to participate in the process . 

Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez stated Monday that “it has become impossible to continue bilateral discussions” with China given its “rigid” and “hard line position of indisputable sovereignty” over the West Philippine Sea following well over 17 many years of unsuccessful negotiations and consultations . 

He stated that the Philippines has long been committed to peacefully solving the discord and to work for a binding Code of Conduct to institutionalize the bounds of discipline among claimant states , improving the current Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea ( DOC ) . 

Hua’s retort on Tuesday continues on a chain of intense exchanges between Manila and Beijing of late , which include verbal swaps between Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi behind closed doors in June’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( Asean ) ministerial meetings in Brunei .  While he appealed for a peaceful settlement to the dispute , Del Rosario also recently scored China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea before members of the European Parliament , Belgian officials and maritime authorities in Brussels , stating Beijing’s military buildup presents a challenge to freedom of navigation in crucialinternational sea lanes in the contested waters . 

China keeps vessels at the Ayungin ( Second Thomas ) Shoal off Palawan and Panatag ( Scarborough ) Shoal off Zambales , the location of a agitated standoff between the two nations last year , in spite of recurrent appeals from the Philippines for Beijing to respect the country’s exclusive economic zone . But Beijing perceived the Philippines’ methods as an act meant to taint China . 

“It is difficult for China to understand how could the Philippines continue to play up the issue of the South China Sea , distort the facts and smear China ,” said Hua . “It is regrettable that over recent years , the Philippines has changed its attitude and approach in handling the issue , gone back on its consensus with China , broken its commitment in the DOC , cast aside the framework of dialogue upheld by a majority of countries , refused to cooperate , aggravated the situation and set off the incident of the Huangyan Island ( Panatag Shoal ) by harassing Chinese civilians with warships , casting a shadow over China-Philippine relations and peace and stability of the South China Sea ,” Hua said . 

Hua further blamed the Philippines for triggering tensions in the waters , scoring the country’s presence in parts of the Spratly Islands ( Nansha to the Chinese ) . 

“The Philippines’ illegal occupation of some of the islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Islands is the direct cause to the South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines . China sticks to the longstanding position of safeguarding national territorial sovereignty , which is totally legitimate ,” said Hua .  She emphasized Beijing’s dedication to regional peace and stability and its long-standing position of getting bilateral negotiations to negotiate the international maritime dispute , which also involves claimants Vietnam , Brunei , Malaysia and Taiwan . 

On the other hand , the Philippines has long been seeking a multi-lateral approach , participating venues like the Asean to obtain a unified approach in settling the dispute with China .  Since a year ago , the Philippines has submitted a flurry of diplomatic protests to Chinese activities regarding the West Philippine Sea , such as the establishment of a new city to administer almost all of the contested territories , the stamping of maps displaying the questioned nine-dash line on new Chinese passports and the conduct of military drills and patrols in contested waters .