China on Wednesday said a 2016 arbitral ruling by a United Nations-backed tribunal that voided its claim to more than 80% of the South China Sea violates international law. “China neither accepts nor recognizes it and will never accept any claim or action based on the award,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press briefing, according to a transcript posted on the agency’s website. “By doing so, we are upholding international rule of law,” he added, calling the ruling “illegal, null and void.” Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo has said the findings of the arbitration court “are no longer within the reach of denial and rebuttal, and are conclusive as they are indisputable.”

Tan, A. N. O. (2022, July 15). China says Philippines' 2016 arbitral award illegal. Business World, p. S1/8.