China says arbitral ruling ‘illegal, invalid;’ PH reiterates commitment to rule of law

China remained firm in disregarding the legality of the 2016 arbitral ruling  that upheld the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, calling the verdict was “illegal” and  “invalid.”

The spokesperson of the China Embassy in the  Philippines claimed that Manila was joining other countries in “ganging up” against China over the maritime row between the two countries.

“The Philippine side clings onto this illegal, invalid arbitral award at the expense of its relations with China. By aligning itself with the US and some other Western countries on the  South China Sea issue, the Philippines joined the small circle of the West ganging up against China,” the statement read.

“To cling to this position and the arbitral award will get the Philippines  nowhere but farther and farther away from the right path.”

GMA News Online had sought the Palace's and the Department of National Defense's reaction to the Chinese Embassy's pronouncements, but they have yet to respond as of posting time.

The Philippines on Friday commemorated the landmark ruling eight years after it was awarded by the international arbitration tribunal in the  Hague, noting that the country would remain committed to the rule of law and peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea.

Manila also acknowledged the support of the international community including the Group of Seven (composed of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States),  and the International  Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

However, China insisted that the Philippines was at fault for the tensions in the contested waters.

“The said arbitration is essentially a political circus dressed up as a legal action,” the Chinese Embassy spokesperson said.

“The Philippines breached the common understandings with China on resolving  the disputes in the South China Sea through consultation and  negotiation, violated the article of the Declaration on the Conduct of  Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) which states that the disputes  should be settled through peaceful means including consultations and  negotiations between sovereign states directly concerned.”

Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea overlap with those of Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.

The Philippines refers to parts of the waters within its exclusive economic zone as the West Philippine Sea. — DVM, GMA Integrated News