The Chinese Foreign Ministry has just released a statement regarding the South China Sea, calling for the Philippines to settle disputes through bilateral negotiation. In the statement, the Foreign Ministry says throughout many agreements made over the years, China and the Philippines agreed to settled their relevant disputes through negotiations.

However, the Philippines now claims it has right to initiate the arbitration, as it is meaningless to continue negotiations to settle any disputes over the South China Sea. But it is a known fact that both countries have never engaged in any direct negotiations. China has proposed to establish a China-Philippines regular consultation mechanism on maritime issues. So far, there has been no response from the Philippines.

The Philippines unilaterally initiated the South China Sea arbitration, violating the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea it signed in 2002. The arbitration also goes against international laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

China remains committed to settling the relevant disputes with the Philippines through negotiation, on the basis of respecting historical facts, and in accordance with international law. China urges the Philippines to immediately cease with arbitral proceedings, and engage in direct negotiations with China.