The Philippines has launched several provocations against China in the contested waters of the South China Sea over the past weeks, with China’s Coast Guard taking steps to exclude intruders and protesting to the government in Manila. On Monday President Bong Bong Marcos said in his “State of the Nation” speech that his government will defend the 2016 arbitration ruling issued after a “star chamber” tribunal brought by Manila in the Hague (with no representation from China), which ruled that China’s claims in the South China Sea were “invalid.” China rejects the ruling as illegal and illegitimate. Marcos said in his speech that the Philippines will defend the ruling, adding that Filipinos “do not yield.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded that China viewed the South China Sea arbitration as “a political farce disguised as a legal proceeding.” He added that “the so-called award is illegal, null and void and has no binding force,” reiterating China’s longstanding position.
