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"Lots of geopolitical considerations" behind illegal South China Sea arbitration: Chinese ambassador

Xinhua, July 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Chinese ambassador to Belgium Qu Xing on Tuesday said the award issued by the law-abusing ad hoc Arbitral Tribunal on South China Sea has no legal basis.

"I don't see any legal basis of this verdict, but I see lots of geopolitical considerations behind this arbitration. Some external powers play important roles," said Qu, when offering an interview with Belgian broadcaster VRT.

Qu was interviewed by VRT and Belgian newspaper Le Soir respectively on Tuesday after a so-called award was issued by the tribunal the same day.

Answering VRT's question on whether China is afraid of more tensions in the South China Sea region, Qu said the tensions have never been created by China.

"The disputes between china and other claimants were there decades ago, but there have been no tensions until recent years. Where does the tension come from? it comes from external powers who sent warships and military planes for the provocation in the waters miles from china's islands. That is the origin of the possible tensions," said Qu.

"You ask if china is afraid of such tensions. it is not a problem of afraid or not. If other parties insist to create tensions, china will have no choice but to deal with tensions in a proper way. But i am convinced that peace and stability in the region will be maintained," said the ambassador.

Qu said the best way to settle the disputes is through direct bilateral negotiations.

"I don't see why the Philippines refuse to negotiate? Negotiation is the best way to find solutions of the territorial maritime issues," said Qu.

He said when People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, China had border disputes with every single of its neighboring countries. But through direct negotiations, china has now found solutions with 12 of its 14 neighboring states, 90 percent of boundaries have been delimited in a peaceful way.

"If the Philippines or any other claimants in the region are ready to sit down and negotiate, I don't think it's impossible to find a solution. The key word is to negotiate, which means compromise based on mutual understanding and mutual accomodation," said the ambassador. Endit