Tribunal ruling not to have impact on China

The Arbitral Tribunal in the South China Sea arbitration will pass its ruling on July 12 on a case filed by the Philippines against China over a dispute in the South China Sea. Anticipating an unfavorable ruling, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei reiterated on Friday that Beijing will not accept it no matter how much diplomatic pressure is put on it.

The ruling is likely to have a variety of diplomatic implications for Asia-Pacific affairs. The United States, Japan and some ASEAN member states that have maritime disputes with China would like it to accept the ruling, which they believe is the most convenient way of encroaching upon China's sovereignty and maritime interests in the South China Sea.

Beijing has to stay alert to such dangers, for they could deal a major blow to its legal status in the South China Sea, be it in reclamation work or territorial claims. Beijing has to stick to its stance of not acknowledging or accepting, let alone implementing, the arbitral tribunal's ruling, simply because it will be illegal and thus null, and void.