U.S. officials are encouraging other Southeast Asian nations to follow the Philippines' example. Chinese officials say taking Washington's advice will destabilize the region further.
Hours after the tribunal result became a global headline
Barack Obama's top Asia advisor called on other claimants in the South China Sea to do what the Philippines did and take Beijing to court.
"The U.S. believes that claimants in the South China Sea can, and should, use the tribunal's decision as a new opportunity to renew efforts to address their maritime disputes peacefully," Dan Kritenbrink, Senior director for Asian Affairs of US Nat'l Security Council, said.
In China's view-yet another example of the U.S. interference in Beijing's backyard.
"Tensions started to rise 5-6 years ago around the same time we began to hear about the so-called pivoting to Asia. So in the last few years disputes intensified, relations strained, confidence weakened," Chinese Ambassador to US Cui Tiankai said.
The Obama administration launched its so-called Asia Pivot by joining regional meetings like ASEAN. It brokered a Pacific free trade pact, which excluded China and also secured five new military bases in the Philippines.
In 2014, China launched massive island building efforts in the Nansha - or Spratly - islands, buttressing claims to this territory. The U-S challenged those claims-ordering a warship into waters near the artificial islands.
"The U.S. military has a presence in the Pacific. We are a Pacific power. Five of seven treaty alliances are in the Pacific. We have enormous security commitments in the region," U.S. State Department Spokesperson John Kirby said.
China's ambassador says the door to negotiations with the Philippines is still open and that it's in U.S. interests to back bilateral talks.
"As for those people who think they can have a free ride on pivoting exercise and gain something from it please go to Iraq, Libya, Syria...ask people there. Be careful what you wish might actually get it," Cui said.
China's ambassador says Beijing has been able to resolve boundary disputes with 12 out of its 14 neighbors, including Vietnam. Vietnam also has an unresolved territorial dispute with China. Like Washington Hanoi backed the Philippines in this case.
