"Unrealistic" to force China to concede on South China Sea: foreign ministry

China said on Friday it is unrealistic to force China to concede or accept the verdict of the South China Sea arbitration case as a fait accompli.

"No matter what the verdict will be in the arbitration case initiated by the Philippines, it will be unlawful and invalid. China will not accept nor recognize it," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei at a daily press briefing.

"The idea that China will be forced to concede or accept a fait accompli through the verdict will turn out to be unrealistic," Hong said.

China is determined to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, said the spokesperson.

China will also uphold the international rule of law and maintain the integrity and authority of the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he said.

Manila unilaterally initiated an arbitration case against China over maritime disputes in the South China Sea at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in early 2013 under UNCLOS. The verdict will probably be announced in May or June.

China has repeatedly said it will not accept nor participate in the process.

The South China Sea disputes between China and the Philippines are over territorial and maritime delimitation.

China declared in 2006 that arbitration and other compulsory dispute settlement procedures do not apply to issues such as maritime delimitation, which was outlined in Article 298 of UNCLOS. Endi