Chinese envoy urges end to political farce regarding South China Sea

The South China Sea arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines was a political anti-China farce in the disguise of law, manipulated by the United States, and acted by the former Philippine government, a Chinese envoy said here Wednesday.

In an article published on the local Oriental Daily and the Star newspaper, Huang Huikang, Chinese ambassador to Malaysia, said the political farce eventually came to an awful end when the ad hoc arbitral tribunal rendered its so-called award on July 12.

The United States attempted to smear and "isolate" China with the arbitration, but unexpectedly received little response, said Huang, pointing out that China's position of non-acceptance of and non-participation in the arbitration has won more and more support. Even the Philippine people realized that the arbitration is a total conspiracy of the United States for its own agenda.

This proves again the old saying, "a just cause enjoys abundant support while an unjust cause finds little support," said the ambassador.

The mainstream of the present world lies in peace, development and win-win cooperation, and it is widely accepted that fair, lawful and peaceful solutions are the best way in solving international disputes, Huang said.

In the South China Sea arbitration, the United States, the former Philippine government under president Benigno Aquino III, and the ad hoc arbitral tribunal were against these principles and norms, he said.

For the United States, it had insisted on its "imperialist mindset" and pursuit of hegemony. It is obvious that during the whole process of the arbitration unilaterally initiated and pushed by the Aquino III administration, the United States was deeply involved in every step. Although alleging "neutrality and non-involvement," the country manipulated behind the scene, and tried to forge a "coalition" to hype up the issue, resulting in rise of tension in the South China Sea.

For the former government of the Philippines, it had breached previous commitment and caused a lot of trouble in the shelter of a super power. It deliberately provoked the Huangyan Island incident, unilaterally initiated and pushed the arbitration, and tried to hijack other members of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to smear China and benefit from the unlawful arbitration award. Its intention is vicious, and its action illegal.

For the ad hoc arbitral tribunal, its composition was a result of political manipulation. It had abused the power for its own interest, and the professional ethics of the arbitrators are widely criticized, said Huang.

The ambassador, who is also a member of the International Law Commission of the United Nations, pointed out that the conduct of the arbitral tribunal and its award seriously contravene the general practice of international arbitration, completely deviate from the object and purpose of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to promote peaceful settlement of disputes, substantially impair the integrity and authority of UNCLOS, gravely infringe upon China's legitimate rights as a sovereign state and state party to UNCLOS, and are unjust and unlawful. It has set an extremely dangerous precedent in the history of international law.

"Facts speak louder than words," he concluded, "The unilateral arbitration initiated by Aquino III administration violates international law. The tribunal has no jurisdiction over this case. The award of the tribunal is null and void. China's position is justified and lawful."

Huang said it's time to put an end to the arbitration on the South China Sea, adding that consultation is the right way to settle disputes between states.

He said China would continue to work together with ASEAN countries to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) comprehensively and effectively, promote the consultation on a code of conduct in the South China Sea, manage and control relevant disputes properly and explore maritime cooperation, in order to build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation. Endit