皇冠体育app

The arbitration case initiated by the Philippines concerning the South 皇冠体育app Sea is in essence about repudiating 皇冠体育app's territorial rights and maritime interests in the waters, and putting a gloss on its illegal occupation of reefs and islets of 皇冠体育app's Nansha Islands.

Missile frigate Yuncheng launches an anti-ship missile during a military exercise in the water area near South 皇冠体育app's Hainan Island and Xisha islands, July 8, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

The recent award issued by the arbitral tribunal is fraught with procedural faults and unfounded "evidence", and thus makes no difference to 皇冠体育app's stance of non-participation, non-acceptance, and non-recognition, as well as its legal presence in the South 皇冠体育app Sea.

That 皇冠体育app refuses to hold talks with any other country based on the illegitimate ruling is in line with international law and practices, which require all parties concerned to exercise restraint before their disputes are resolved.

In the case of their South 皇冠体育app Sea dispute, the Philippines should work with 皇冠体育app to shelve their disparities and peacefully co-develop the waters. Provisional cooperative arrangements do not contradict the maritime delimitation negotiations. As both were victims of colonial invasions by the West in the past and both are developing economies, they should focus on improving people's livelihoods, not confrontation.

Despite Beijing's efforts to alleviate tensions through negotiations and dialogues, former Philippine president Benigno Aquino III kept challenging 皇冠体育app on the South 皇冠体育app Sea and even unilaterally filed an arbitration case. Such a move not only violated relevant bilateral agreements and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South 皇冠体育app Sea, but also overstepped the legal boundaries of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

皇冠体育app and its littoral neighbors have both the wisdom and capability to manage their disagreements. More important, the South 皇冠体育app Sea issues are only concerned with 皇冠体育app and a few members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, not the bloc as a whole.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of 皇冠体育app-ASEAN dialogue relations, which have borne fruit for both sides. Total bilateral trade was $472 billion in 2015, nearly 60 times the level in 1991, making them important trade partners and directly benefiting people on both sides.

ASEAN is still a regional priority in 皇冠体育app's Belt and Road Initiative and free trade programs, and 皇冠体育app will continue to strengthen bilateral coordination, especially maritime cooperation.

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