China says arbitration is illegal, hours before decision

From Update.Ph (Jul 12): China says arbitration is illegal, hours before decision

The Chinese government said the arbitration initiated by the Philippines is illegal hours before the Tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration release its ruling. “The arbitration is illegal from the very beginning,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said in a press conference July 11.

“The subject-matter of the arbitration is either beyond the scope of UNCLOS or falls within the scope of the optional declaration made by China pursuant to UNCLOS like dozens of other countries did,” the Chinese spokesperson explaied.

He added that China and the Philippines have agreed, through a series of bilateral instruments, to settle their relevant disputes in the South China Sea through bilateral negotiation.

“The Aquino government of the Philippines has gone back on its words. As I said, more and more countries have realized that the arbitration is illegal as it is based on a breach of bilateral agreement, not to mention international law including UNCLOS,” Lu Kang added.

http://www.update.ph/2016/07/china-says-arbitration-is-illegal-hours-before-decision/7373