China A Bully In South China Sea Dispute

China should stop trying to bully the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei in the ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

• South China Sea Dispute protesters cry with “Hands Off” placards boldly raised high. It was a statement to China’s reclamation, which many described as bullying.

The Chinese government has stated that it would not abide by the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, and has refused to take part in the legal case filed by the Philippines which challenges the validity of China’s claims.

The United States says China is legally bound to abide by the ruling of the tribunal at The Hague, as both Beijing and Manila have signed the U.N Convention on the Law of the Sea.

But the Chinese claim the dispute is not covered by the treaty because it is a matter of sovereignty, not exploitation rights, insists disputes with rival countries over South China Sea claims be handled bilaterally, and wants the United States to stay out of Asian affairs.

China a bully in South China Sea Dispute, protesters cry to mark Philippines Independence Day. Protesters marched to the Chinese Consulate in Makati city, metro Manila July 24, 2015.

China called on the Philippines  to withdraw a case it has filed at a U.N. arbitration tribunal over rival claims in the South China Sea and return to bilateral negotiations but wants no talk of South China Sea dispute at upcoming ASEAN meeting.

“The dispute has grown increasingly tense in recent years with the Philippines at the forefront of accusing China of “bullying” in asserting its claim over the waters which are a crucial sea lane and fishing ground also believed to hold vast mineral resources.”

The Chinese government has a long history of trying to bully smaller and weaker countries, and this is just the latest example. Satellite images show that China has rapidly expanded building new projects on its artificial islands in the South China Sea dispute group of islands in 2014. South China Sea Dispute Image courtesy of REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco