2016年CRI China rejects South China Sea arbitration award

 

In its final decision, the 5-member arbitration¹ panel at the Hague sided with the 2013 claim filed by the former Philippine government.

Among other conclusions it reached, the tribunal denied China's long-standing historical rights in the South China Sea.

Both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier² Li Keqiang responded by noting that China will not accept nor recognize the decision, while the country's territorial³ sovereignty and maritime⁴ interests in the South China Sea will not be affected⁵ under any circumstances.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the arbitration is nothing but a political farce⁶ under the pretext⁷ of law, and the decision shall have no legal effect.

"With regard to such an arbitration case that involves far-fetched procedural and legal application and has so many flaws in ascertaining⁸ evidences and facts, the Chinese people do not accept it at all and anyone across the world who upholds justice shall not agree with it. By not accepting or participating in the arbitration, China is in fact safeguarding the international rule of law and regional rules."

Wang Yi said the arbitration was hatched and manipulated by foreign powers and aimed at violating China's territorial integrity and maritime rights and interests.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry⁹ said the decision "is null and void and has no binding¹⁰ force."

It again notes that China's claim over the South China Sea is based on both historical and legal grounds.

At the same time, authorities in Taiwan also refused the ruling, saying the decision, especially the part regarding Taiping Island, "is not legally binding."

The Philippine government initiated¹¹ the arbitration in January 2013 regardless of a series of political documents with China that stipulate¹² bilateral¹³ talks are the only way to settle any disputes between the two countries.

A month later, the Chinese government declared that it would neither participate in nor accept any outcome of the process.

More than 70 countries and international organizations, as well as over 230 political parties and groups in more than 90 countries, have voiced support for China's principled position.

Right after the ruling, countries including Pakistan, Thailand and Cambodia reiterated¹⁴ their support for China's stance.

While rejecting the decision, Chinese authorities again proposed that disputes in the South China Sea be resolved through negotiations¹⁵ and consultations¹⁶.

Wang Yi stressed that it's time to put the issue back on track.

"Now, this farce has come to an end and it's time to return to the right path. China has noticed that the new Philippine government has made a series of statements recently, including expressing its willingness to resume negotiations and talks with China over the South China Sea."

The new Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, recently said that Manila is ready to talk to China even if the South China Sea arbitration tribunal rules in the Philippines' favor.

In its statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said negotiations and consultations should be carried out "on the basis of respecting historical facts and in accordance with international law."

So far, China has solved border issues with 12 of its 14 land neighbors with over 20,000 km of borderlines delineated and demarcated.

In a separate statement on Tuesday, China's central government vowed¹⁷ to respect and uphold freedom of navigation and overflight enjoyed by all states under international law in the South China Sea.

1 arbitration   

n.调停，仲裁

参考例句：

• The wage disagreement is under arbitration.工资纠纷正在仲裁中。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding.双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

2 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

3 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

4 maritime   

adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的

参考例句：

• Many maritime people are fishermen.许多居于海滨的人是渔夫。
• The temperature change in winter is less in maritime areas.冬季沿海的温差较小。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 farce   

n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹

参考例句：

• They played a shameful role in this farce.他们在这场闹剧中扮演了可耻的角色。
• The audience roared at the farce.闹剧使观众哄堂大笑。

7 pretext   

n.借口，托词

参考例句：

• He used his headache as a pretext for not going to school.他借口头疼而不去上学。
• He didn't attend that meeting under the pretext of sickness.他以生病为借口，没参加那个会议。

8 ascertaining   

v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I was ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. 我当时是要弄清楚地下室是朝前还是朝后延伸的。 来自辞典例句
• The design and ascertaining of permanent-magnet-biased magnetic bearing parameter are detailed introduced. 并对永磁偏置磁悬浮轴承参数的设计和确定进行了详细介绍。 来自互联网

9 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

10 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

11 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

12 stipulate   

vt.规定，（作为条件）讲定，保证

参考例句：

• International rules stipulate the number of foreign entrants.国际规则规定了外国参赛者的人数。
• Some manufacturers stipulate the price at which their goods are to be sold.有些制造商规定出售他们生产的商品的价格。

13 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

14 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

15 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

16 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

17 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。