Ahead of UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-moon's visit, China today lashed out at the UN arbitral tribunal hearing the Philippines' petition on the disputed South China Sea, saying it has become a "mouthpiece of certain countries".
China's stern statement came a day after it barred all civilian ships from entering into areas of naval drills in the disputed waters of the SCS.
The Maritime Safety Administration of China yesterday said military exercises in certain waters of the SCS will be held from tomorrow to July 11, and all civilian vessels will be prohibited from those areas, state-run Global Times reported.
The military drills will finish one day before the UN arbitration court announces its decision on the SCS caseinitiated by the Philippines against China's maritime claims in the resource-rich area.
The Philippines lodged the case against China in early 2013, saying that after 17 years of negotiations it had exhausted all political and diplomatic avenues to settle the dispute.
Beijing, which asserts sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea despite rival claims from Southeast Asian neighbours, insists that the Permanent Court of Arbitration has no jurisdiction over the issue and has boycotted the proceedings.
Reacting to the Philippines' chief lawyer Paul Reichler's comments that China risks "outlaw" status if it rejects ruling of the tribunal on the SCS which will be delivered on July 12, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said, "It seems he also knows what the ruling will be and the ruling definitely reflects his beliefs."
"Judging from what he said it proves that arbitral tribunal is the mouthpiece of certain countries," he said, in a veiled reference to the US, which is backing the Philippines and other countries challenging China's claims on the SCS.
Hong was replying to a question on Reichler's comments that the Permanent Court of Arbitration, based in The Hague, would rule in Manila's favour on July 12.
Reichler had said that though he did not know the contents of the ruling, he was confident it would favour his client Philippines which questioned China's claims over the reefs and islands in the SCS .
Hong, however, said that the arbitral tribunal has no jurisdiction over this case and its ruling therefore is invalid.
"China sovereignty and relevant rights were forged over long course of history and upheld by successive governments. This illegal ruling will not affect China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," he said.
Hong's criticism against the tribunal comes ahead of Ban's four-day visit to China starting from July 6 at the invitation of Beijing.
China attaches high importance to Ban's visit, Hong said,
adding the UN Secretary General would have talks with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and other leaders and discuss China-UN corporation, international situation and major hot-spot issues.
He also said China values core role played by the UN in international affairs.
China Resolutely safeguard the international order and international system with the principles of UN charter at its centre, he said.
China claims almost the whole of the SCS. Its claim, however, is strongly contested by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
