Beijing to hold South China Sea war games after ruling

China will cut off access to part of the South China Sea for military drills, days after an global tribunal ruled against Beijing’s broad claim to the waters.

China rejected the tribunal’s ruling in the case initiated by the Philippines and refused to take part in the arbitration.

The verdict says, “China had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the exclusive economic zone by interfering with Philippine fishing and petroleum exploration, by constructing artificial islands and failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing in the zone”.

Meanwhile, freedom of navigation patrols carried out by foreign navies in the South China Sea could end “in disaster”, a senior Chinese admiral has said, a warning to the United States after last week’s ruling against Beijing’s claims in the area.

Mr Blair said the intention was not to pick a fight, but to set limits.

The PLA sent H-6K long range strategic bombers and other aircraft including fighters, scouts and tankers to patrol islands and reefs including Huangyan Dao, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Shen Jinke, spokesman for the PLA Air Force as saying.

China claims virtually all of the South China Sea and has inflamed regional tensions when it started building its own islands on disputed reefs, adding airstrips, radar and communications and defence systems, plus troops.

“The Philippines will not sacrifice what we have obtained from this decision but we will also pursue diplomatic means hopefully to convince China that we can co-exist peacefully”, he said.

Speaking in an informal meeting during the summit, Li said the South China Sea issue should not be subject to multilateral discussions from the very beginning, or be included in the summit’s agenda. The five-judge tribunal dismissed China’s “Nine-dash Line” claim which covers about 85 percent of the South China Sea, saying it was unlawful under UNCLOS which it ratified in 1996.

Zhang Junshe, a senior researcher at the People’s Liberation Army Naval Military Studies Research Institute, said cooperation between the two navies is expanding in areas such as joint drills and officer exchanges. Brunei, Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam have competing claims over the maritime territory.

“Those who attempt to flaunt their military muscle to force us into submission will only see their efforts backfire”, said Admiral Wu.

“We will never sacrifice our sovereignty and interests in the South China Sea”, Wu said, stressing that it is China’s “core interest” and concerns the foundation of the Party’s governance, the country’s security and stability and the Chinese nation’s basic interests.

Chinese state media on Friday reported again that China aims to launch a series of offshore nuclear power platforms to promote development in the South China Sea.