While introducing a policy paper in response to the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Mr Liu said the islands in the South China Sea were China’s “inherent territory” and blamed the Philippines for stirring up trouble.
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Foreign affairs secretary, Perfect Yasay said Philippine’s experts are “studying the Award with the care and thoroughness that this significant arbitral outcome deserves”.
China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea rivals those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
It said China had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights and caused “severe harm to the coral reef environment” by building artificial islands.
The Hague ruling sets out clearly the rights and obligations of the various parties involved in the quarrel, with the Philippines clearly the victor.
The Philippines filed its complaint with the court in 2013 after China took control of a disputed reef off its coast called Scarborough Shoal.
“So that we can really see what is happening in the Natunas and the surrounding area in the South China Sea”.
“Vietnam occupies the biggest number of islands or islets in the South China Sea and has the biggest area of overlapping maritime claims with China”, Gu said. It will likely bolster defense measures, encouraged by the ruling that China’s “nine-dash line” claims in the waters have no legal basis.
The whitepaper, released yesterday by China’s State Council Information Office, accused the Philippines of “having increasingly intensified its infringement of China’s maritime and interests”.
Malaysia also cherished peace and stability in the South China Sea and believed that China and all relevant parties can find constructive ways to develop healthy dialogues, negotiations and consultations while upholding the supremacy of the rule of law for the peace, safety and security for the region.
“China’s aim is to turn the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation”, Liu said but added that China also had “the right” to establish an air defense zone over the sea, which would give the Chinese military authority over foreign aircraft.
Ms Bishop urged all South China Sea claimants to resolve their disputes peacefully, saying Australia would keep exercising its worldwide rights to freedom of navigation and overflight, and support the right of others to do the same. If newly elected President Rodrigo Duterte leans toward a pro-Beijing line on the promise of economic assistance, it could undermine the bloc’s unity.
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Six regional governments have overlapping claims in the South China Sea, waters that are rich in fishing stocks and potential energy resources and where an estimated $5 trillion in global trade passes each year.
