China opposes any moves by the Philippines to initiate and push forward the arbitral proceeding on the South China Sea issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said Tuesday.
Hua told a regular press briefing that China will neither accept nor participate in the arbitral proceeding unilaterally initiated by the Philippines, adding that China has expounded this position on many occasions.
In 2013, the Philippines filed an arbitration case at The Hague questioning the maritime boundaries claimed by China. It has been pushing forward the arbitral proceeding ever since.
Hua said the Philippines' moves are in breach of the agreement that has been repeatedly reaffirmed with China as well as the Philippines' undertakings in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea(DOC).
She said China's position has been clearly stated in the Position Paper of the People's Republic of China on the Matter of Jurisdiction in the South China Sea Arbitration Initiated by the Republic of the Philippines released last December.
