Arbitration award more shameless than worst prediction
The Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague announced its award over the South China Sea disputes on Tuesday, with the final verdict more radical and shameless than many people had ever expected. All Chinese people are outraged by this illegal verdict and the world's peace-loving public is astonished by the biased decision that may escalate regional tensions.
The tribunal denied the legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the nine-dash line and decided that none of the high-tide features in the Nansha Islands can generate an exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Besides, it found China's construction in the Nansha Islands has no legitimacy, and blamed China for interfering in the Philippines' business activities within the nine-dash line and its obstruction of Philippine vessels for intensifying tensions in the sea.
If the award were to be followed, China would be left with only a few isolated spots in the Nansha Islands without entitlement to any EEZ and could even be deprived of sovereignty of the waters surrounding the islands and islets. The majority of the Nansha Islands waters would be taken up by the EEZs claimed by the Philippines and Vietnam. Besides, China could not continue with its island construction. The existing facilities might be dismantled by these two countries if they could. With the related resources being owned by Manila and Hanoi in the future, China would have to withdraw its business and other activities from the area.
This not only outrageously denies China's historic rights in the Nansha area and its legitimate maritime interests, but also overthrows the state of de facto control in the region including the Huangyan Island waters. This is ridiculous. The verdict has brazenly violated China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has no
jurisdiction over territorial disputes, a principle that has been established since the convention was signed. The tribunal's verdict, by redefining the disputes, has stepped in to dictate over the sovereign and maritime demarcation disputes between China and the Philippines. The tribunal has shamelessly overstepped and abused its authority. It is a brutal violation of UNCLOS and the entire international law system.
Not only the Chinese government, but the whole of Chinese society will by no means accept the verdict. Our attitude of non-acceptance and non-participation in the arbitration remains unchanged. The so-called arbitration award is nothing but a piece of paper. But if the US and Japan use it to pile military and political pressure on Beijing, Chinese people will firmly support our government to launch a tit-for-tat counterpunch. We trust Chinese law enforcement and military forces have been well-prepared. We don't believe the provocateurs are emboldened enough to take forceful actions other than making some statements.
We hope China's rightful activities in the Nansha area will not be affected. Meanwhile, Chinese society can withstand all the waves, including geopolitical challenges, to function as usual. We have trust in the Chinese government and in our national strength to deal with these challenges. We have kept a firm hold on
the reclaimed islands and reefs in the Nansha Islands. Compared to long-term significance of these strategic pivots, the arbitration is merely a bubble.
社评：“仲裁结果”比最坏的预测还要无耻
南海仲裁案仲裁庭北京时间12日下午公布了仲裁结果，它比之前很多人预测的更加极端、无耻，堪称是人们可以想象的“最坏版本”，相信全体中国人都会为这一非法裁定感到愤慨，世界爱好和平的公众也会对仲裁庭这一严重偏袒一方，并且很可能加剧地区局势紧张的做法而十分诧异。
根据一个非官方的中文翻译版本，这一仲裁结果借助否决南海九段线内中国主张权益来对其做了釜底抽薪，而且否定它的历史依据。它否定南沙群岛中任何一岛有专属经济区，这等于否定了太平岛的应有地位。它还公然宣称中国在南沙扩建岛礁不具有合法性，指责中国拦阻菲律宾在九段线内开展经济活动，指中国拦截菲律宾船只加剧了海上紧张。
如果按照这一裁决，中国在南沙群岛最多只剩下一些孤立的点，既无专属经济区，甚至可能连岛礁周围的一些领海都将被剥夺。而南沙海域大部分将被菲律宾和越南的专属经济区覆盖。
它还意味着，中国的岛礁建设无法持续，如果菲越有足够的力量，甚至可以对中国已建的岛礁搞“强拆”。今后那片海域的资源将归菲越所有，中国的经济活动和其他活动都要退出那个区域。
这是对中国领土主权和海洋权益的悍然否定。联合国海洋法公约不适用于领土主权的调整和规范，这是该公约缔约时的首要原则之一。现在仲裁庭通过对这些争端的再定义，
兜了个圈子对中菲领土和海洋划界争端强行裁决，这是无耻的越权和滥权，是对海洋法公约以及整个国际法体系的粗暴践踏。
不仅中国，整个中国社会都决不可能接受这一“仲裁结果”，我们对仲裁“不接受、不参与”的态度坚定不移，谁都休想撼动我们。
所谓“仲裁结果”就是废纸一张，但美日等国如果利用它向中国施加现实军事政治压力，中国人民必将支持予以针锋相对的回击。相信中国的执法力量严阵以待，中国的军事力量同样不会在需要他们站出来时沉默。
我们希望看到，中国在南沙地区的各种正当活动不受任何影响，也希望看到中国社会在各种包括地缘政治挑衅在内的各种风浪面前保持定力，让这个国家的运行节奏一如往常。相信我们的有能力应对这些挑战，也让我们相信这个国家的实力能够确保我们岿然不动。
