Full coverage: South China Sea Is Indisputable Part of China

The China Law Society has issued a statement on the South China Sea arbitration initiated by the Philippines. It says it is illegal and invalid for the Philippines and for the Arbitral Tribunal to have pushed forward the relevant proceedings.

In the statement, the CLS says it stands firmly by the consistent position of the Chinese government of not accepting, participating in, or recognizing the case.

It says the Arbitral Tribunal abused its authority and willfully expanded the scope of its jurisdiction. It points out China and the Philippines agreed to settle the disputes through negotiations and consultations, and therefor excluded any third-party procedures.

It also says the Arbitral Tribunal disregarded China's sovereignty and sovereign rights in the South China Sea. China's long history of development and jurisdiction in the South China Sea has long been recognized by neighboring countries. It has gained the status of customary international law.

The acts of the Philippines and the Arbitral Tribunal have only increased the tension in the South China Sea. They also undercut the trend of peaceful development in this region. The Chinese legal community call on the international community to recognize the illegal and harmful nature of the arbitration, and urge the relevant countries to settle disputes through dialogue.