PARIS, July 14 (Xinhua)-- The decision of the arbitral tribunal handling the South China Sea arbitration case is extremely dangerous, a renowned French sinologist has said.
The award "may potentially fuel third party alliances and anti-Chinese sentiment, undermining peace in the South China Sea and in the world," Pierre Picquart, geopolitician and China specialist, told Xinhua after The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) issued its decision on Tuesday.
In a press release accompanying the 479-page award, the five-member tribunal offered a summary of its decisions, which sweepingly side with the claims filed by the administration of former Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III in 2013.
In fact, China's rivals "will take advantage of this ruling to foster local conflicts, facilitate armament shipping to small countries and exacerbate tensions in the South China Sea," the French academic said.
Policy-makers from the United States, Europe or elsewhere could be tempted to indirectly attack China via other countries, especially China's neighbors, Picquart further explained.
China repeatedly suffered from foreign invasions by the West and Japan in the late 19th century, division of territories, unfair and unlawful treaties.
As a peace-loving country, China "has always valued economic development, commercial trade and human progress, as opposed to wars and conflicts," the sinologist said.
China should firmly oppose this ruling that goes against a peaceful settlement, Picquart said, adding that the verdict might cause escalating danger in the region.
The Chinese government declared on Tuesday that China will not accept any claim or action based on the ruling of the arbitral tribunal.
Picquart believed that challenging China's legitimate historic rights "is totally unreasonable, dangerous and detrimental to peace."
"Negotiations between China and the Philippines should be underpinned by bilateral dialogues," he concluded.
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China says ADIZ in South China Sea depends on threat
BEIJING, July 13 (Xinhua) -- China said on Wednesday that it will decide whether to declare an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the South China Sea in accordance with the level of threat.
"The ADIZ is not a Chinese invention, but rather that of some big powers. If our security were threatened, of course we have the right. It depends on our comprehensive judgment," said Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin at a press briefing at the Information Office of the State Council. Full story
