Full coverage: The South China Sea Issue

China's Ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming has called the South China Sea arbitration case by the Philippines as a "political farce under the cloak of law."

Liu said it in an article in the British newspaper, "The Sunday Telegraph." The ambassador also stressed that a legitimate arbitration needs to meet certain conditions, including having jurisdiction over the subject matter AND impartial and authoritative arbitrators. He also said the arbitration procedure must be reasonable -- and the ruling on the substantive issues should help resolve disputes.

According to Liu, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which heard Manila's case, did not meet these conditions. He also pointed out that the tribunal was "recklessly partial," which created more problems instead of resolving the dispute. He also said "pretty words" about protecting the law cannot gloss over the "illegal essence" and practice of the tribunal.