When the Permanent Court of Arbitration announced China had no historical title over the South China Sea, Beijing offered a predictable response.
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The ruling by The Hague-based tribunal has been considered unfavorable to both China and Taiwan.
Chinese state media on Friday reported again that China aims to launch a series of offshore nuclear power platforms to promote development in the South China Sea.
Pressure on the South China Sea dispute would make this maritime territory, which is rich in natural resources, a “cradle of war”, the Chinese regime says.
China asserts sovereignty over nearly all of the strategically vital waters, despite rival claims from its Southeast Asian neighbors, most notably the Philippines.
The Tribunal concluded that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the “nine-dash line”.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop angered Beijing with comments insisting the panel’s ruling must be recognized and that it would continue to exercise its right to freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.
“The situation of the South China Sea is the concern of the global community”.
Nordquist made the remarks on the Public International Law Colloquium on Maritime Dispute Settlement, held in Hong Kong on July 15 and July 16.
A key summit between Asian and European leaders in Mongolia ended on Saturday without direct mention of the South China Sea dispute in its closing statement, with diplomats describing intense discord over the issue between Europe and Asia.
Multilateral talks, Gordon said, will lessen any tensions arising from The Hague ruling.
Vietnam – whose own South China Sea dispute with Beijing may also benefit from the PCA ruling – will also talk about “all kinds of issues” at the summit, its foreign minister Pham Binh Minh said.
Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, brought the case against China and bolstered security relations with treaty ally the United States to deter assertive Chinese actions, considerably straining ties.
It also ruled Chinese terra forming in the Spratlys illegal as those areas “form part of the Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf of the Philippines”.
“We do however have a deep interest in the peace and stability of the South China Sea and it is an important trade route for Australia”, she said.
Asked about Cambodia’s position, Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhon said: “We are not involved in this arbitration case and just wish to stand by our policy of neutrality”.
On Friday, the European Union issued a statement noting China’s legal defeat but avoided direct reference to Beijing, reflecting discord among EU governments over how strongly to respond to the court ruling.
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The United States, which has the largest navy in the world, maintains a permanent presence of military vessels in the region.
