All China Lawyers Association issues statement on South China Sea arbitration initiated by the Philippines

An aerial photo taken on Sept. 25, 2015 from a seaplane of Hainan Maritime Safety Administration shows cruise vessel Haixun 1103 heading to the Yacheng 13-1 drilling rig during a patrol in South China Sea. (Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan)

BEIJING, June 7 -- The All China Lawyers Association issued on Tuesday a statement on the South China Sea arbitration case unilaterally initiated by the Philippines. Following is the full text of the statement's English version:

All China Lawyers Association

Statement on the South China Sea Arbitration Case Unilaterally Initiated by the Republic of the Philippines

The All China Lawyers Association (ACLA) hereby makes the following solemn statement on the South China Sea arbitration case unilaterally initiated by the Republic of the Philippines:

1. ACLA firmly supports the stance of the Chinese Government on the South China Sea issue, and the positions clearly stated in the Position Paper of the Government 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 dated December 7, 2014. No country, organization or individual is in a position to deny China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.

2. The Philippines unilaterally initiated the South China Sea arbitration, disregarding the fact that the disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea are in essence about territory and form an integral part of maritime delimitation, denying the consensus of the two countries that they have chosen to settle relevant disputes through bilateral negotiations, and denying the optional exceptions declaration China made in 2006 pursuant to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Philippines' conduct violates relevant provisions of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), abuses the UNCLOS arbitration procedures, and infringes upon China's right to choose means of dispute settlement on its own will, and is thus illegal.

3. The Arbitral Tribunal established at the unilateral request of the Philippines, while having no jurisdiction over the arbitration case, has wantonly expanded and exceeded its power, and made serious mistakes in areas such as verification of facts and application of law. Its conduct goes completely against the principles and purposes of UNCLOS, erodes the integrity and authority of UNCLOS, runs counter to international judicial justice, violates the spirit and goals of international rule of law on peaceful settlement of international disputes, and is by no means impartial.

4. China's non-acceptance and non-recognition of and non-participation in the arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines is a justifiable act aimed at defending state sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, upholding international rule of law, and protecting the authority and integrity of UNCLOS.