China is not adhering to the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague in 2016, which upheld the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) or known as the Scarborough Shoal. In a press conference yesterday, Zhang Zhen, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Cebu, reiterated China’s refusal to honor what she labeled as “illegal, null and void” arbitral award. “China has and will never uphold to it (arbitral award). China will always uphold the policy to settle disputes through peaceful consultation and that is very important,” Zhen told reporters.

Dalipe, G. IV. (2024, February 9). China not adhering to ‘void, illegal’ Hague ruling in WPS – consul. Panay News, p. 2.