MANILA, Philippines – China missed the deadline to respond to the Philippines’ historic arbitration case on the South China Sea, reaffirming that it rejects the legal process.
On the December 15 deadline, China’s foreign ministry reiterated that Beijing “will neither accept nor participate” in the proceedings before The Hague-based arbitral tribunal. China had only until Monday to respond to the 4,000-page pleading that the Philippines filed last March by submitting a “counter-memorial.” (READ and WATCH: What China’s snub means for PH arbitration case)
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Qin Gang said Monday that arbitration is not the way to solve the dispute, and the tribunal does not have jurisdiction over the case.
“We maintain that parties concerned should resolve relevant disputes through consultation and negotiation on the basis of respecting historical facts and international law,” Qin said in a press briefing.