Full coverage: The South China Sea Issue

A commentator from Pakistan National Television says the Philippines-initiated arbitration case on the South China Sea violates the basic principle of international law. A central committee member of Fatah-formally known as the Palestinian National Liberation Movement- has also expressed support for China's stance on the South China Sea issue.

"Philippines decided to go...so if China refuses to go to this court or does not agree to abide by the result of this court, it's fully justified," said Sultan M Hali, PTV commentator.

"The situation has changed since the discovery of petroleum and gas in the South China Sea in the 1970s. But whatever those changes are, they do not change the fact that China has sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea. Fatah supports China's sovereignty over these islands and this position is in line with the Doha Declaration that was passed at the seventh ministerial meeting of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum," said Abbas Zaki, Central Committee member of Fatah.