Nine years after a controversial international tribunal ruling on the South China Sea, China reaffirmed its rejection of the decision, calling it "a piece of waste paper" that violates international law. 🇨🇳📜
Why It Matters Now
The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated Saturday that the 2016 "arbitral award" – initiated by the Philippines without China's consent – undermines global maritime rules and threatens regional stability. Experts warn such disputes could impact trade routes used by $3.4 trillion in annual shipping.
Law or Flaw?
China argues the ruling broke key principles:
🚫 Ignored China's 2006 opt-out from compulsory arbitration
🚫 Violated UNCLOS treaty procedures
🚫 Misclassified islands like Taiping Dao (500,000㎡) as "rocks"
"This isn't just about China," the spokesperson noted. "Accept this flawed logic, and every nation's maritime claims could unravel."
What's Next?
China vows to keep working with ASEAN countries to finalize a Code of Conduct for the strategic waterway. Over 60% of global maritime trade passes through these waters – making peaceful resolution crucial for the TikTok generation's global economy. 📱🌏
