The gathering was the first major worldwide conference since the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled, in a case brought by the Philippines, that Beijing’s claims to much of the strategically vital South China Sea have no legal foundation. However, the president in question was Shunji Yanai, a controversial figure because of his close relationship with Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, and his aggressive stance as an global court judge of the East China Sea. He has not commented on the arbitration ruling but described the territorial disputes as a complicated issue that may affect the country’s ties with treaty ally the United States and the Philippine economy. “As provided in the Convention, the Tribunal’s decision is final and legally binding”, said US State Department Spokesperson John Kirby in a statement.
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China has refused to recognise Tuesday’s ruling by an arbitration court in The Hague invalidating China’s vast claims in the South China Sea and did not take part in the proceedings.It has reacted angrily to calls by Western countries and Japan for the decision to be adhered to.
There is growing concern that countries with territorial disputes would follow the same legal path as the Philippines government and take their cases to the aribitral tribunal that recently ruled in favour of the Manila government.
Corr noted that China has been occupying the reef – which the PCA said was within the Philippine exclusive economic zone – since 1995.
Mr Wang admitted China had installed military equipment on reclaimed islands in the sea, as well as four lighthouses and maintenance and rescue centres.
Li retorted that Japan should “stop hyping up and interfering” in the South China Sea, China’s official Xinhua news agency said. Inspired by the tumultuous campaign to consider Britain’s exit from the European Union, the new catch phrase was code for the legal campaign to force China to “exit” the South China Sea.
The ruling also upholds the Philippines’ right to operate without Chinese harassment inside its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf as outlined by UNCLOS. The Philippines sought arbitration in 2013 after witnessing China’s activities in Scarborough and elsewhere in the sea rich with fish and potential energy resources.
Some analysts said the figures faced adjustments as a result of the resolution of The Hague, Netherlands-based Permanent Court of Arbitration, which on July 12, 2016 ruled in favor of the Philippines.
The irony in China’s South China Sea claim is that the Communist Party has fallen into a trap set unintentionally by the Kuomintang, which it defeated in 1949.
Opposition Kuomintang lawmakers urged Tsai to visit Taiping Island to stand up for Taiwan’s sovereignty, but Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang (黃重諺), in response to the report of a possible visit, reiterated that there were no plans for Tsai to go there.
A Mongolian diplomat said negotiations over the closing statement were “intense”.
While the European Union is neutral in China’s dispute with its Asian neighbors in the South China Sea, Britain, France and Germany want to make clear that Beijing must uphold worldwide law as it seeks a bigger global role.
Chinese officials did not speak to foreign reporters during the summit.
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The remarks by Solicitor General Jose Calida follow two days of carefully calibrated responses from the Philippines and are nearly certain to irritate China further. First, small states need worldwide law to be respected so that they are not abused and terrorised by larger, more powerful countries.
