China Rejects US, Philippines and Allies' South China Sea Statement

BEIJING, July 12: China on Sunday rejected a joint statement issued by the United States, the Philippines and several allied nations marking the 10th anniversary of an international tribunal ruling that invalidated Beijing's expansive claims in the South China Sea.

China's Foreign Ministry said Beijing "firmly" upholds its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the disputed waterway and will take "resolute" measures to defend its interests against what it described as infringements and provocations by certain countries.

The joint statement, issued by Japan, the Philippines, the United States, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Romania, Slovenia and the United Kingdom, said China's broad maritime claims in the South China Sea "have no legal basis."

The statement commemorated the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which sided with the Philippines and found that China's claims to sovereignty over much of the South China Sea had no basis under international law. Beijing has consistently rejected the ruling.

Responding to the statement, China's Foreign Ministry said it does not accept or recognize the arbitration award and opposes any claims or actions based on it, insisting that the ruling does not affect China's territorial sovereignty or maritime rights under any circumstances.

Beijing also accused the United States and other external powers of increasing their military presence in the South China Sea, saying such actions amount to militarization, coercion and efforts to inflame regional tensions.

China maintained that it remains committed to resolving disputes through negotiations and consultations with directly concerned countries, in accordance with international law and with the aim of preserving peace and stability in the strategically important waterway.

The South China Sea remains one of the world's busiest shipping routes, with China and the Philippines continuing to assert overlapping territorial claims.