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China rejects Hague tribunal judgement: foreign ministry
by Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) July 12, 2016


EU head cautions China to respect international system
Beijing (AFP) July 12, 2016 - European Union President Donald Tusk on Tuesday cautioned China to respect the international system, as the world's second-largest economy finds itself locked in disagreements over maritime law and global trade practices.

His comments preceded a judgement from a UN-backed tribunal declaring that China had no "historic rights" in the strategically vital South China Sea, a ruling swiftly rejected by China's foreign ministry.

Speaking in Beijing at the start of the EU-China summit, Tusk called on the Asian giant to protect the "rule-based international order", saying the task "may be the biggest challenge ahead of us."

EU members have roundly criticised Beijing for its trade practices, claiming the Asian giant is flooding global markets with cheap products, driving down prices and threatening economic stability.

The global framework of laws and regulations "brings so many benefits to our nations," Tusk said, adding: "If many start believing that globalisation and international trade are happening without or against common rules, then the first victims will be Chinese and European economies, not to mention people."

His comments followed remarks by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang that the meeting is "an active signal that clearly states that we are two important powers safeguarding world peace and development."

Earlier in the day, China cancelled a pre-arranged press conference with the leaders, EU representatives said.

The EU is in the process of considering whether or not to grant China market economy status, a designation that would make it much harder for major economies to fight Beijing over alleged unfair trading practices.

Opposition to granting the status has focused on complaints that China has violated global trade rules, most notably selling steel at below market prices.

Tusk also referred to the South China Sea dispute between Beijing and Manila ahead of the decision from the Hague-based tribunal, saying "the rule-based international order is in our common interest, and both China and the EU have to protect it, as this is in our people's best interests."

China asserts sovereignty over almost all of the strategically vital waters in the face of rival claims from its Southeast Asian neighbours.

To bolster its position it has rapidly turned reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes.

Manila lodged its suit against Beijing in 2013, challenging China's claims to much of the waterway and saying it was in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to which both countries are signatories.

Beijing insists the tribunal has no jurisdiction over the issue and that it will ignore the ruling.

Beijing "does not accept and does not recognise" the ruling by a UN-backed tribunal on its dispute with the Philippines over the South China Sea, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

The declaration followed a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague that China has no historic rights to its claimed "nine-dash line".

"The award is null and void and has no binding force," the ministry said on its website. "China neither accepts nor recognises it."

Beijing "does not accept any means of third party dispute settlement or any solution imposed on China," it added, reiterating its long-standing position on the dispute.

China has repeatedly denied the tribunal's authority to rule on the dispute with the Philippines over the strategically vital region, claiming that the court's actions are illegal and biased against it.

Beijing refused the opportunity to defend its position before the body.

Despite China's assertions, the tribunal's judgement was "very law based," said Julian Ku, an expert on international at New York's Hofstra University, adding that it did "not uncritically accept the Philippines' arguments".

"I was struck by how much the tribunal bent over backwards to give China opportunities to comment and participate in this case," he added.

The dispute has become the centre of a tense standoff between China and the US, with Washington claiming that China's increasingly aggressive behaviour in the region threatens free passage through the area's critically important shipping lanes.

US ships and aircraft have patrolled the region, including passing within the 12 nautical mile limit that would apply to any territorial waters, in what is widely seen as an attempt to undermine Chinese claims of control.

The court ruling, however, has invalidated any claims -- by anyone -- that the reefs and shoals under dispute give such legal rights.

The decision is devastating for China's claims, said Yanmei Xie, China analyst for the International Crisis Group, saying the ruling was "as unfavourable to China as it can be".

Despite the announcement, the Chinese foreign ministry said the country continues to assert it has sovereignty arising from its historical claims.

"China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea shall under no circumstances be affected by those awards," the statement said, adding that "China opposes and will never accept any claim or action based on those awards."

China was willing to negotiate directly with other countries "on the basis of respecting historical facts and in accordance with international law", it said, including for joint development.

In the short term, the decision is unlikely to change much, Xie said.

"We're going to see a continuation of the chest thumping we've seen especially from the China side."

Police sealed off the Beijing street where the Philippine embassy stands. More than a dozen white police vans were parked, blocking all entrances to the street, but no protesters were visible.


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Previous Report
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Beijing will not 'step back' in South China Sea: media
Beijing (AFP) July 8, 2016
Beijing will not take a "single step back" in the contested South China Sea, state-run media said Friday, despite reports of US naval patrols close to its artificial islands ahead of a tribunal ruling on the dispute. China asserts sovereignty over almost all of the strategically vital waters in the face of rival claims from its Southeast Asian neighbours, and has rapidly turned reefs into ar ... read more


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