China urges EU to be neutral on South China Sea issue

China urged the European Union to "be discreet with its words and actions" and be neutral over the South China Sea issue, after the Council of the European Union voiced the EU's acknowledgement of the South China Sea arbitration ruling.

In its conclusions on the EU strategy on China issued on Monday, the Council of the EU said the EU and its member states "acknowledge the Award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal", referring to the recent ruling over the South China Sea arbitration case filed by the Philippines.

In response, the Foreign Ministry said: "The EU is not a party involved in the South China Sea issue. It should be discreet with its words and actions, pay real respect to international law and respect efforts invested by countries in the region to maintain peace and stability.''

The remarks were released by the ministry's Spokesperson's Office in a written interview with China Daily.

"China hopes that the EU holds onto a stance that is objective, just and neutral, and plays a positive role for regional stability and the development of China-EU ties," the ministry said.

The ministry reiterated that by unilaterally filing the arbitration case in 2013, the Philippines breached the agreement it had reached with China and went against international rules, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

"The arbitral tribunal was, from the start, based on the Philippines' illegal behavior," it said.

"It had no jurisdiction over the disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. The ruling it made through expanding and exceeding its power is of course illegal and invalid."

The Philippines also violated regional rules that are embodied by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, a document that "constitutes an important part of this region's maritime rules and order," said the ministry.

China and ASEAN countries in 2002 signed the declaration in which they agreed to resolve disputes through consultations and negotiations by sovereign states directly concerned.

The ministry said China will continue to work with ASEAN countries to implement the declaration comprehensively and effectively and actively push forward consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

Feng Zhongping, vice-president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said the EU should understand the complexity of the South China Sea issue and refrain from making indiscreet comments.

"The stable development of China-EU ties, which is good to both China and the EU, was hard to come by, and the EU should cherish it," Feng said.