China Voice: Don't distort justice with a false arbitration award

The pursuit of justice unites all countries. With regard to the findings of the recent arbitration award, however, a concern for justice was conspicuous by its absence, and this sets a dangerous precedent.

The tribunal handling the South China Sea arbitration case, initiated by the previous Philippine government, issued its final award Tuesday, and many countries joined China in highlighting that it had no jurisdiction.

The award itself also lacked common sense and indicates poor professionalism. For instance, the award said Taiping Island is a "rock." On which rock there have been fresh water, cultivated land, human residents and livestock?

Moreover, the arbitration occurred at the same time as increased U.S. military presence in the South China Sea: Is this just coincidence, or are the two connected?

For those reasons, China has the right to not accept or recognize the award. Experts, lawyers and ordinary citizens from all walks of life in China snubbed the award, calling it ridiculous and questioning how the arbitration could get it so wrong.

For those reasons, the arbitration is nothing but a farce and has nothing to do with justice that arbitration should pursue.

And more importantly, China's attitude toward the so-called award is also for safeguarding international justice, because China may not be the only state to be on the receiving end of a biased, false and ridiculous process.

What is Justice? It is not invading a country on the allegation of it holding a weapon of mass destruction, nor is it violating other countries' territorial waters on the pretence of "freedom of navigation."

The "award" has done nothing but make the South China Sea issue more complicated.

China still stands by the settling of disputes through negotiation between those involved -- dialogue is the best possible way to pursue international justice and maintain regional stability. Endi