Zhao Qizheng, former minister of China's State Council Information Office, speaks at the Think Tank Seminar on South China Sea and Regional Cooperation and Development held in Singapore, July 18, 2016. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)
Former minister of China's State Council Information Office Zhao Qizheng stated unequivocally that going back to negotiations is the only way forward for the settlement of disputes in the South China Sea and that an arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Aquino III administration will not impede the progress of China-ASEAN cooperation.
Zhao made the remarks during a keynote speech at the Think Tank Seminar on South China Sea and Regional Cooperation and Development held in Singapore on Monday.
Organized by the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the seminar attracted more than 20 experts from academic institutes in China and countries in the region, including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and India.
The seminar focused on three main topics, namely settlement mechanism of maritime disputes, solutions to the disputes of the South China Sea, as well as South China Sea and regional cooperation and development.
ARBITRATION "POLITICAL FARCE"
Zhao reiterated China's unwavering position of non-acceptance and non-recognition of the ruling issued by the ad hoc tribunal in the South China Sea Arbitration.
"The so-called arbitration was a downright political farce under the pretext of law. It contained serious errors in issues concerning procedure, application of laws, and admission of evidence," Zhao said in his keynote speech.
Zhao added that the ad hoc tribunal handling the South China Sea Arbitration violated the principle that arbitration shall be based on state consent, China's right to choose its own means of dispute settlement, and a bilateral agreement already reached between the Philippines and China, and repeatedly reaffirmed over the years.
He reiterated that the only way to resolve complicated disputes in the South China Sea is through bilateral negotiations and consultations.
The expert on the matter also pointed out that the so-called arbitration also violated the commitment made by the Philippines in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), to resolve relevant disputes through negotiations and consultations.
