A Chinese scholar said the so-called "South China Sea arbitration award" is being used as a political tool to contain China rather than uphold international law, as China reiterated its rejection of the ruling a decade after it was issued.
The remarks came after China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on Sunday rejecting and refusing to recognize the so-called "award" in response to a joint statement issued by 14 countries marking the 10th anniversary of the ruling.
China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea shall not be affected by the "award" under any circumstances, the ministry's statement said.
Yang Xiao, a research professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of Peaceful Development, said support for the "arbitration award" remains limited despite renewed political attention.
"Ten years after the 'arbitration,' there are only 14 countries, mostly U.S. allies, put out a joint statement reaffirming the so-called ‘award’. Out of 193 United Nations member states, that's not a coalition,” Yang said, meaning that there is abosolutely no international consensus.
He said that the ruling has been "weaponized" to provide a political and legal pretext for external interference in regional affairs.
"So, what is the real intention here? Quite simple, the 'award' has been weaponized. It is being used as a political tool to contain China and to fabricate a legal pretext for external interference in regional affairs. The countries driving this narrative, particularly those outside the region, aren't genuinely concerned about maritime order. They are using this old, legally-flawed piece of paper to maintain strategic hegemony, pressure China, and force a bloc confrontation in the Western Pacific. It is a classic case of selective justice: invoking international law only when it serves their unilateral interests. At the end of the day, true regional stability cannot be built on political theater or illegal rulings. It can only be achieved through genuine, bilateral dialogue between direct stakeholders. And that is exactly the message Beijing is sending," he said.
The ministry's statement was issued after the United States, the Philippines, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Romania, Slovenia and the United Kingdom released a joint statement referring to the "arbitration award" on its 10th anniversary.
Expert says South China Sea "arbitration" used as political tool
A book promotion event for the fifth volume of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book on the governance of China was held in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, on Monday, ahead of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
Participants said that as the event coincided with the 25th anniversary of the the establishment of the SCO as an intergovernmental organization, it was of great significance for representatives from all walks of life in both countries and from the SCO family to exchange views on the book.
The important work systematically expounds the theory and practice of Chinese modernization, vividly presents China's vision and program for building a community with a shared future for humanity, and serves as an authoritative work for understanding Chinese modernization and contemporary China.
It also provides important guidance for China and Kyrgyzstan to deepen exchanges of governance experience and strengthen the alignment of their development strategies.
"As an authoritative work for understanding Chinese modernization and gaining insight into contemporary China, it also serves as an important guide for China and Kyrgyzstan to deepen exchanges on governance and strengthen the alignment of their development strategies," said Mo Gaoyi, deputy director the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, in addressing the event.
Former Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva pointed out that the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, is an idea and proposition with global influence.
High-quality Belt and Road cooperation has brought new development opportunities and helped Kyrgyzstan gradually transform into an important hub on the Eurasian continent, she said, adding that an in-depth study on the internal logic, governance mechanism and long-term planning of China's development is of great practical value.
"Today, we are building new highways, railway corridors, and economic corridors. These are, of course, essential. But no less important is building roads of trust through books, education, culture, academic exchanges, and people-to-people ties," she said.
Also addressing the event, Kyrgyz State Secretary Arslan Koichiev said China has been successful in adapting Marxism to its national conditions and has accumulated rich experience in integrating Marxism with China's realities. To understand Marxism in the 21st century, one should carefully study the works of President Xi, he said.
Reading the book can help people think more deeply about Kyrgyzstan's relations with China and the rest of the world, and encourage practical cooperation to promote mutual learning among civilizations as well as development and prosperity, Koichiev said.
"China's policies are viewed and interpreted differently across Europe, the United States, and other regions. On these issues, President Xi Jinping's works provide a Chinese perspective and interpretation, calling on the world to pursue dialogue, peace, and security," he said.
SCO Deputy Secretary-General Piao Yangfan said China and Kyrgyzstan, as founding members of the SCO, have made unique contributions to the establishment and development of the "Shanghai Five" mechanism.
The book includes President Xi's important speeches on building a China-Central Asia community with a shared future and an SCO community with a shared future, providing guidance for strengthening solidarity and coordination among regional countries, consolidating a secure and stable environment, enhancing the alignment of development strategies, and promoting closer people-to-people bonds, Piao said.
During the event, the Chinese side presented Kyrgyz guests with copies of the Kyrgyz edition of the third volume and the Russian edition of the fifth volume of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China." Representatives of Kyrgyz medical workers and journalists shared stories of cooperation between the two countries in practicing the philosophy of putting the people first.
Participating experts exchanged views on topics including Chinese modernization, building a community with a shared future for humanity, the Global Governance Initiative, Belt and Road cooperation, and mutual learning among civilizations.
The event was jointly organized by China's State Council Information Office, China International Communications Group and the Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan. About 300 representatives from political parties, media organizations, think tanks and other sectors of the two countries attended the event.
Kyrgyzstan, one of the founding members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, holds the rotating SCO presidency this year.
Book promotion event for "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" held in Kyrgyzstan
