China said on Tuesday that the so-called "South China Sea Arbitration" was a political farce unilaterally initiated by the Philippines under the guise of law, and the resulting "award" is entirely illegal and invalid.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian made the remarks following a joint statement issued on Sunday on the "award" by countries including some European nations, the United States and the Philippines. The European Union also released a separate statement.
The head of the Department of European Affairs of the Foreign Ministry summoned and lodged strong protests respectively with the heads of the diplomatic missions of the countries concerned and the EU delegation to China. The European side was also urged to stop endorsing the illegal "South China Sea Arbitration Award".
Europe is not a party in the South China Sea and is in no position to make irresponsible remarks on China's legitimate territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, Lin said.
The "arbitration" is nothing but a stunt pulled by the US and a handful of Western countries for the political purpose of containing China, he said.
