China Condemns Revival of South China Sea Arbitration Award

The Government of China condemned a recent statement by several countries that sought to revive a 10-year-old arbitration award concerning the South China Sea. Through state media, China characterized the original award as a "political farce" and an illegal process, asserting that the Philippines violated international law by initiating the proceedings without Chinese consent.

China argues that the tribunal exceeded its authority by ruling on territorial sovereignty, which it claims falls outside the jurisdiction of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The government maintains that it holds historic rights and sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands based on postwar international agreements and historical practice.

Furthermore, China rejected accusations that it employs force or coercion in the region. Instead, the government claims that external powers provoke tensions by conducting military deployments and reconnaissance under the guise of freedom of navigation.