China has reasserted its opposition to a controversial 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, calling it a “severe threat” to global maritime law in a new report released Thursday. 🔍 The document, backed by top Chinese research institutes, argues the ruling disrupted regional stability and undermined trust in international legal frameworks like the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The report compares the arbitration process to a “plot twist gone wrong” 🎬 in a geopolitical drama, claiming it ignored historical context and lacked jurisdiction. It specifically criticizes the Philippines’ unilateral approach, stating negotiations—not courtroom battles—are key to resolving disputes in the resource-rich waters.
Eight years after the ruling, tensions still simmer. 🌏 The report warns that foreign support for the arbitration risks turning the South China Sea into a “chessboard for external powers,” potentially straining China-ASEAN relations. China maintains its “non-acceptance” policy, vowing to protect its maritime interests through dialogue rather than what it calls “legally flawed” decisions.
