China lodges protest as Japan joins 13 nations backing South China Sea ruling

China on Sunday summoned Japan's envoy in Beijing and lodged a formal diplomatic protest after Tokyo joined 13 other countries in reaffirming the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that rejected Beijing's sweeping claims over the South China Sea.

Accusing Japan of interfering in regional affairs and undermining peace and stability, Beijing maintained that its sovereignty over the disputed waters has "never changed" despite the international tribunal's decision.

The diplomatic row follows a joint statement by 14 countries marking the 10th anniversary of the landmark ruling, which declared that China's expansive maritime claims under the "nine-dash line" have no legal basis under international law. The European Union also separately endorsed the ruling, drawing a sharp response from Beijing.

China lodges formal protest against Japan

China's Foreign Ministry summoned the chief minister of the Japanese Embassy in Beijing to convey what it described as "solemn representations" and express its "strong dissatisfaction and protest" over Japan's position.

According to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, Beijing accused Tokyo of challenging China's territorial sovereignty and undermining regional peace and stability through its remarks on the South China Sea dispute.

Earlier, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said China's refusal to accept the 2016 tribunal ruling was "against the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes" and "undermines the rule of law in the international community."

Rejecting the criticism, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Japan had no standing in the dispute.

"On July 12, Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi made a statement ten years after the '2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea.' The statement blatantly endorses the illegal 'award,' attacks China's lawful claims and mischaracterizes Japan as a 'legitimate stakeholder who uses the South China Sea.' China strongly deplores and firmly opposes it," the ministry said, according to the Global Times.

China accuses Japan of reviving militarist ambitions

China also accused Japan of attempting to interfere in the South China Sea under the pretext of being a stakeholder.

"Now decades later, Japan, in the name of a 'stakeholder,' is again attempting to meddle in the South China Sea. This reminds people of Japan's history of aggression and expansion, and heightens their vigilance against Japan's neo-militarism agenda," the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

Fourteen countries reaffirm tribunal ruling

The diplomatic protest came after the United States, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, the Philippines, Romania, Slovenia and the United Kingdom jointly reaffirmed the July 12, 2016 ruling issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

The countries described the decision as "a significant milestone" that is "final, legally binding, and definitive between China and the Philippines with respect to the maritime entitlements and claims" examined by the tribunal.

They reiterated that maritime disputes should be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law and opposed the use of military, coast guard and maritime militia forces to intimidate other states in disputed waters.

Separately, the 27-member European Union described the tribunal's decision as a "landmark decision in the peaceful settlement of disputes."

Beijing rejects tribunal decision

China has consistently refused to recognise the 2016 arbitration award, arguing that the tribunal lacked jurisdiction and that its historical rights over the South China Sea remain valid.

Reiterating its position, the Chinese Foreign Ministry described the ruling as "a piece of waste paper that is illegal, invalid and nonbinding."

Beijing also urged other countries to stop what it described as actions that undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea and to respect China's territorial sovereignty.

To reinforce its position, the Chinese Foreign Ministry released a video titled "What the South China Sea Waves Tell Us", portraying the waterway as an inseparable part of Chinese civilisation and history.

Why the South China Sea is strategically important

The South China Sea is one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes, with around one-third of global maritime trade passing through it each year.

China claims most of the sea under its "nine-dash line," overlapping with the territorial claims of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

The 2016 arbitration case, initiated by the Philippines, ruled that China had no historic rights over resources within the nine-dash line and that several of its actions violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Although the ruling is legally binding, Beijing has continued to reject it while expanding its military and coast guard presence across the disputed waters.

(With inputs from TOI)