Arbitration ruling will be 'null and void'

Chinese scholars said on Wednesday that China is not acting against its obligations as a signatory to the United Nations Convention Law of Sea.

They said China has the right not to accept or participate in the Philippine's South China Sea arbitration case, and said the upcoming ruling of the international tribunal in The Hague will be null and void.

"Procedurally, China is not obliged to participate in the international arbitration in South China Sea," said Zhang Xinjun, a professor of law at Tsinghua University.