Full coverage: The South China Sea Issue

China has issued a government statement reaffirming China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. And Chinese President Xi Jinping has taken time out during a meeting with European leaders in Beijing, to reiterate China's stance that the South China Sea Islands have always been a part of Chinese territory, and that the country's sovereignty in the South China Sea will not be affected by the so-called arbitration. On Tuesday an arbitral tribunal found that China has no "historic title" over waters in the South China Sea.

China's statement on the arbitral finding reiterates that China was the first nation to have discovered, named and explored the South China Sea Islands and surrounding waters, and the first nation to have continuously exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over them -- giving China territorial sovereignty and related rights and interests in the region.

The statement also says that China stands ready to continue to resolve its maritime disputes peacefully through negotiation and consultation with all states directly concerned -- on the basis of historical fact and in accordance with international law. It adds that China is ready to make every effort with all states directly concerned to enter into provisional arrangements of a practical nature, including joint development in relevant maritime areas, in order to achieve win-win results and jointly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.