China reiterates rejection of South China Sea ruling by arbitration tribunal

July 14, 2022 CEN_com Geopolitics & Multipolarity~, Politics & Economy~ 0

Permanent Court of Arbitration: not UN agency – “nothing to do with UN”

On 14 Jul 2022 CGTN reported:

China on Wednesday reiterated its stance on the so-called ruling of an arbitral tribunal on the South China Sea in 2016. “The so-called award of the South China Sea arbitration seriously violates international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is illegal, null, and void,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin. He made the remarks in response to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s comments on the so-called ruling. Blinken expressed support for the so-called ruling in a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Manila on Tuesday.

Wang Wenbin, MOFA

Background: US interference

China Environment News on VK on 8 May 2021 previously posted this background information:

The United Nations said it has nothing to do with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), which set up a tribunal that handled the South China Sea arbitration case the Philippines filed unilaterally in 2013.

Li Jinming, a professor of international maritime law at Xiamen University, in China, pointed out that the use of terms such “UN tribunal” or “UN-backed tribunal” – frequently reported by Western media – is incorrect, as they confuse the PCA with the UN’s International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The UN said the PCA is a “tenant” of the Peace Palace in The Hague, “but has nothing to do with the UN”.

The UN said the International Court of Justice, its principal judicial organ set up according to the Charter of the UN, is also located in the Peace Palace.

The United Nations said it has nothing to do with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). Western media deliberately

“confuse” the PCA with the UN’s International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The construction of the palace was managed by the Carnegie Foundation, which is still the building’s owner and manager, according to the Peace Palace website.

The UN said it makes an annual donation to the foundation for using the Peace Palace.

When asked about the Arbitral Tribunal’s case’s ruling on Tuesday, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said “The UN doesn’t have a position on the legal and procedural merits” of the South China Sea arbitration case.

In response, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China will, as always, observe the goals and principles set up by the Charter of the UN, and solve maritime disputes peacefully by having talks with countries directly involved, “on the basis of firmly guarding China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime interests”.

Lu said: “China is a responsible member of the international community. It’s an important advocate and loyal implementer of the UN’s cause to push forward the international rule of law.” Li Jinming, a professor of international maritime law at Xiamen University, pointed out that the use of terms such “UN tribunal” or “UN-backed tribunal” – frequently reported by Western media – is incorrect, as they confuse the PCA with the UN’s International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Wang Hanling, a maritime law researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said some countries and news media are “deliberately” confusing the tribunal with the ICJ. [END]

Sources:

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