Full coverage: The South China Sea Issue

The Philippines' chief counsel Paul Reichler says the arbitration over the South China Sea will remove the legal basis of China's Nine-dash line. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in response that any so-called arbitration would be illegal and invalid, as the tribunal itself has no jurisdiction over the case.

"We want to reiterate that the arbitral tribunal has no jurisdiction over the relevant case. And its arbitrament is illegal and invalid. China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea were built up during a long process of history, and had been insisted on by successive Chinese governments. Any illegal and invalid arbitration will not affect China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests over the islands and islets in the South China Sea," said Hong Lei, spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry.