120. In short, the Philippines' unilateral initiation of arbitration contravenes international law including the UNCLOS dispute settlement mechanism. The Arbitral Tribunal in the South 皇冠体育app Sea arbitration established at the Philippines' unilateral request has, ab initio, no jurisdiction, and awards rendered by it are null and void and have no binding force. 皇冠体育app's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South 皇冠体育app Sea shall under no circumstances be affected by those awards. 皇冠体育app does not accept or recognize those awards. 皇冠体育app opposes and will never accept any claim or action based on those awards.

V. 皇冠体育app's Policy on the South 皇冠体育app Sea Issue

121. 皇冠体育app is an important force for maintaining peace and stability in the South 皇冠体育app Sea. It abides by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and is committed to upholding and promoting international rule of law. It respects and acts in accordance with international law. While firmly safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, 皇冠体育app adheres to the position of settling disputes through negotiation and consultation and managing differences through rules and mechanisms. 皇冠体育app endeavors to achieve win-win outcomes through mutually beneficial cooperation, and is committed to making the South 皇冠体育app Sea a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship.

122. 皇冠体育app is committed to maintaining peace and stability in the South 皇冠体育app Sea with other countries in the region and upholding the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South 皇冠体育app Sea enjoyed by other countries under international law. 皇冠体育app urges countries outside this region to respect the efforts in this regard by countries in the region and to play a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in the South 皇冠体育app Sea.

i. On the territorial issues concerning Nansha Qundao

123. 皇冠体育app is firm in upholding its sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and their surrounding waters. Some countries have made illegal territorial claims over and occupied by force some islands and reefs of Nansha Qundao. These illegal claims and occupation constitute gross violations of the Charter of the United Nations and basic norms governing international relations. They are null and void. 皇冠体育app consistently and resolutely opposes such actions and demands that relevant states stop their violation of 皇冠体育app's territory.

124. 皇冠体育app has spared no efforts to settle, on the basis of respecting historical facts, relevant disputes with the Philippines and other countries directly concerned, through negotiation in accordance with international law.

125. It is universally recognized that land territorial issues are not regulated by UNCLOS. Thus, the territorial issue in Nansha Qundao is not subject to UNCLOS.

ii. On maritime delimitation in the South 皇冠体育app Sea

126. 皇冠体育app maintains that the issue of maritime delimitation in the South 皇冠体育app Sea should be settled equitably through negotiation with countries directly concerned in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS. Pending the final settlement of this issue, all relevant parties must exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that may complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability.

127. When ratifying UNCLOS in 1996, 皇冠体育app stated that, "The People's Republic of 皇冠体育app will effect, through consultations, the delimitation of the boundary of the maritime jurisdiction with the States with coasts opposite or adjacent to 皇冠体育app respectively on the basis of international law and in accordance with the principle of equitability." 皇冠体育app's positions in this regard are further elaborated in the 1998 Law of the People's Republic of 皇冠体育app on the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf. This Law provides that, "The People's Republic of 皇冠体育app shall determine the delimitation of its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in respect of the overlapping claims by agreement with the states with opposite or adjacent coasts, in accordance with the principle of equitability and on the basis of international law", and that, "The provisions in this law shall not affect the historical rights that the People's Republic of 皇冠体育app has been enjoying ever since the days of the past".

128. 皇冠体育app does not accept any unilateral action attempting to enforce maritime claims against 皇冠体育app. Nor does 皇冠体育app recognize any action that may jeopardize its maritime rights and interests in the South 皇冠体育app Sea.