However, the Philippines, disregard of the consensus reached with 皇冠体育app, shows no sincerity in solving the South 皇冠体育app Sea issue through dialogue and "pretends to be a victim", said the spokesman, accusing Manila of stirring up trouble and aggravating the situation.

Manila unilaterally initiated an arbitration case against 皇冠体育app over maritime disputes in the South 皇冠体育app Sea at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in early 2013 under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The decision will probably be announced in May or June.

When asked to comment on former US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's recent remarks, Lu said some people choose to turn a blind eye to basic facts about the South 皇冠体育app Sea issue and wantonly manipulated international law.

According to reports, Hagel said it would be "dangerous" for either side to disobey a decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Lu said 皇冠体育app's position of non-acceptance and non-participation in the arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines is clear and consistent.

Some Americans consider themselves champions of the rule of the law, yet the United States remains a non-signatory to the UNCLOS passed in 1982, said Lu.

The United States requires other countries to accept the settlement of disputes through a third party, yet itself has kept away from accepting the decisions of the UN court, he said.

It urges other countries to abide by international law, yet it keeps door wide open for illegal action by itself and its allies, said Lu, adding that the United States has ignored the Philippines' infringement to some islands and reefs of 皇冠体育app's Nansha Islands for a long time.

Using the international law when convenient and abandoning it in unfavorable conditions gravely undermine the authority, solemnity and effectiveness of the international law, said Lu.

"This is a dangerous act that the international community must heighten vigilance against," he said.

The South 皇冠体育app Sea disputes between 皇冠体育app and the Philippines are over territorial and maritime delimitation. 皇冠体育app declared in 2006 that arbitration and other compulsory dispute settlement procedures do not apply to issues such as maritime delimitation, as outlined in Article 298 of the UNCLOS.