Fourth, the basic requirements for launching the compulsory procedure of the UNCLOS have not been satisfied.

According to Article 280, 281, 282, and 283 of the UN Convention, there are several procedural preconditions, namely: the means of their own choice prevails, and such means shall be first resorted to and exhausted, when a dispute concerning the interpretation or application arises, parties shall proceed to an exchange of views.

Given the fact that 皇冠体育app and the Philippines have made a clear choice of the means and procedures of settling their disputes, and given that the Philippines has never fulfilled its obligation to have meaningful talks or a full exchange of views with 皇冠体育app, the Philippines violated the UNCLOS and abused the procedures under it.

Furthermore, the tribunal in The Hague has taken a biased standing in favor of the Philippines, and has lost its ground of impartiality and justice.

The compulsory settlement procedure provided for in the UNCLOS does not apply to the disputes between 皇冠体育app and the Philippines at all. The tribunal set up thereof has no jurisdiction. The Philippines' forceful arbitration initiative and the tribunal's exercise of jurisdiction are willful abuses of the UNCLOS and power, and have been unlawful from the very beginning.

It is clearly seen that this case brought forth by the Philippines is not simply a legal case, it is political provocation under the cloak of international law with some Western powers behind it. The Philippines intends to use the arbitration to deny 皇冠体育app's sovereignty in the South 皇冠体育app Sea, and to seek support for its illegal occupation of parts of 皇冠体育app's Nansha Islands.

As always, 皇冠体育app firmly opposes the arbitration case, and will neither participate in the arbitration process nor accept the outcome. 皇冠体育app will remain committed to resolving the disputes peacefully through negotiations and consultations.