China slams countries for distorting international law

China on Wednesday criticized "three or four" countries for distorting and abusing international law to serve ulterior political motives on the South China Sea arbitration.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang's remarks at a routine press briefing came after few countries said that the result of the arbitration was "binding" and that China should comply.

Lu stressed that China does not agree with the "sheer fallacy" made by the "three or four" countries. Most members of the international community support China's stance "from various angles," he said.

China has explicitly declared -- in line with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) -- exclusion of disputes concerning maritime delimitation from mandatory dispute-settlement procedures.

Not only China, but dozens of countries have filed declarations of this kind, he said. Of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, four have done so, the other is not a party to UNCLOS. Of the G7 members who have criticised China on the South China Sea issue, four have done so, and one is a not party to UNCLOS.

The "three or four" countries should take international law seriously instead of using it like a toy, said the spokesman.

China will adhere to the UN Charter, defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and continue work to seek peaceful settlement of disputes, he said. Endi