China has refused to recognize a ruling by an arbitration court in The Hague that invalidated its vast territorial claims in the South China Sea and did not take part in the proceedings brought by the Philippines.
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Yasay also said Tuesday President Rodrigo Duterte’s “first and foremost” priority was to regain access to the Scarborough Shoal for Filipino fishermen. “But on the other hand we didn’t dodge any of the more contentious issues regarding dispositions in the South China Sea, the Court of Arbitration Ruling and those issues, recognizing that only through being completely frank and honest are we going to make any progress in those areas”.
“They (China) said if you will insist on the ruling, discussing it along those lines, then we might be headed for a confrontation”, Mr Yasay said during an interview with the news channel of broadcaster ABS-CBN.
Freedom of navigation patrols carried out by foreign navies in the South China Sea could end “in disaster”, a senior Chinese admiral said over the weekend. “In recent years, the development of China’s trade relations with the Philippines overall has been smooth and stable”.
“Engagement with China through bilateral talks towards the peaceful resolution of the issue must be compliant with the Constitution, worldwide law, and the rule of law”, said Abella.
Although no blocking has occurred, in the week since the ruling, China has done some muscle-flexing, including landing planes on two brand-new airstrips on two disputed reefs, and sending its coast guard to stop Philippine fishermen from fishing a contested shoal.
Hainan’s maritime administration said an area southeast of the island province would be closed from Monday to Thursday, but gave no details about the nature of the exercises.
Following their meeting, Chinese state media, led by official news agency Xinhua and the Communist Party of China mouthpiece, People’s Daily, apparently quoted Phuc and reported: “Vietnam respects China’s stance on the SCS arbitration case, which was unilaterally initiated by the Philippines, and maintains that such disputes should be solved peacefully through negotiations”.
According to the Pentagon, both men discussed the South China Sea and how the two navies could engage safely in the future.
China seized Scarborough Shoal in 2012 after a brief standoff with the Philippine Navy.
China has firmly rejected last week’s ruling by an global arbitration panel in The Hague that essentially voided China’s South China Sea maritime claims.
On Monday, Chinese Air Force spokesman Shen Jinke said the PLA Air Force recently conducted a combat readiness patrol in the South China Sea, including sending its H-6K bombers to patrol around Huangyan Island.
Beijing, which justifies its extensive claims by saying it was the first to have discovered, named and exploited the sea, has said the tribunal ruling can not be the basis of any discussions.
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Chinese citizens are boycotting KFC and smashing their iPhones in an angry response to the unfavoured global ruling on the South China Sea.
