Ji Lingpeng, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, expressed his position on Poland's remarks relating to the South China Sea issue. Q: Polish Foreign Ministry Secretary Bartoszewski recently said in an interview with Philippine media that China has an obligation to abide by the 2016 “South China Sea Arbitration Award” and that Poland supports the Philippines on this issue. What comments does the Chinese side have on this? A: China's position on the “South China Sea Arbitration Case” is consistent and clear. The “South China Sea Arbitration Case” violates basic principles of international law such as “national consent” and “agreement must be complied with”, violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea itself, and is even more contrary to the basic facts of the South China Sea. The so-called “ruling” is a piece of unlawfully invalid and non-binding waste paper. China does not accept or recognize this “ruling”, and opposes and does not accept any claims or actions based on this “ruling.” Poland is not a party to the South China Sea issue. We urge Poland to earnestly respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, be careful in its words and actions, and stop endorsing illegal “rulings.”

Ji Lingpeng, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, expressed his position on Poland's remarks relating to the South China Sea issue. Q: Polish Foreign Ministry Secretary Bartoszewski recently said in an interview with Philippine media that China has an obligation to abide by the 2016 “South China Sea Arbitration Award” and that Poland supports the Philippines on this issue. What comments does the Chinese side have on this? A: China's position on the “South China Sea Arbitration Case” is consistent and clear. The “South China Sea Arbitration Case” violates basic principles of international law such as “national consent” and “agreement must be complied with”, violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea itself, and is even more contrary to the basic facts of the South China Sea. The so-called “ruling” is a piece of unlawfully invalid and non-binding waste paper. China does not accept or recognize this “ruling”, and opposes and does not accept any claims or actions based on this “ruling.” Poland is not a party to the South China Sea issue. We urge Poland to earnestly respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, be careful in its words and actions, and stop endorsing illegal “rulings.”