China urged the Philippines to stop undermining bilateral relations and the stability in the South China Sea, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday.
In response to a media query regarding a Philippine official's remarks on the South China Sea, Mao said it is the Philippines that has violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
"China's position on the so-called South China Sea arbitration award is clear and consistent. The unilateral filing of the arbitration case by the Philippines constitutes a distortion and abuse of the dispute settlement mechanism under the UNCLOS. It is the Philippine side that has truly violated the provisions of the Convention and undermined its integrity and authority," Mao said.
"We urge certain individuals in the Philippines to refrain from seeking attention through provocative actions and disruptive behavior, and stop undermining China-Philippines relations and the stability in the South China Sea," she said.
China urges Philippines to stop undermining bilateral ties, South China Sea stability: spokeswoman
