China deplores and rejects the joint statement issued by the U.S. and the Philippines together with several European countries as well as the statement from the EU ten years after the “South China Sea arbitration award”.
The statements are a distortion of facts and act of vilification against China.
China’s sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea were established in the long course of history, and are solidly grounded in the law.
Double standards on issues concerning international law will only further erode relevant European countries’ own credibility. China urges the EU side to stop endorsing the illegal “award” and not to affect the China-EU ties and cooperation.