Ruling may 'open Pandora's box'

A senior publicity official has warned that the possible South China Sea ruling by an arbitration panel may "set a dangerous precedent and open a Pandora's box in the sea".

Jiang Jianguo, minister of the State Council Information Office, said on Thursday at a forum in Beijing that as the United States has sent aircraft carriers and strategic bombers to the region, its accusation that China is militarizing the sea is "a bad joke".

Jiang was speaking as the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague is thought to be near issuing its ruling on arbitration unilaterally launched by the Philippines, and Washington pressures Beijing to accept the decision.