China's stance over South China Sea dispute never to change, says foreign minister

China shall never change its stance over the South China Sea dispute. 

The firm stance is made known again Thursday through a press briefing given by a senior Chinese international specialist in Beijing.

The specialist, Xu Hong, is the director general of the treaties and laws department under the Chinese foreign ministry.

Xu tells the press briefing that the lawlessness has turned the arbitration case into a catwalk show.

"By now this arbitration case on South China Sea dispute has been turned into a catwalk show. Who's going to take such a show seriously? Not to mention its outcome. China shall never change its position over the dispute in the South China Sea. Nothing will ever change the history and fact that China enjoys sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and surrounding waters, be it the Philippines' unilateral application for arbitration or the verdict out of such an arbitration. Nothing will ever change China's resolution and will-power to safeguard its territorial integrity and maritime interests. China also stands prepared to solve disputes through direct negotiations with countries in the region with the aim of jointly maintaining peace and stability of the region," says Xu Hong.

Xu adds that the Philippine move shall not affect China's will and resolution over safeguarding its sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, as well as China's decision on solving relevant disputes through direct negotiations.

The official also says that China shall not change its policies and positions over safeguarding the peace and stability of the South China Sea, along with countries in the region.

"China does not want to see any party getting abducted by the arbitration case," says Xu.

Xu Hong stresses that China will not accept any country basing bargains on this invalid and lawless arbitration and its verdict and that China will not consider any proposition based on such acts. China will have no other choice but firmly oppose all acts which are harmful to its rights and interests. — Reuters