China has accused the American government on Friday of supporting the Philippines in an ongoing South China Sea arbitration in the Hague. Beijing's reaction was prompted by the comment of American State Undersecretary Daniel Russel that both claimants should respect and follow the decision of the arbitration body.

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China has since declared that it does not recognize nor will it follow the decision of the arbitration tribunal. Instead, Beijing wants to settle it's territorial disputes, with countries like the Philippines, bilaterally - without  involving a third party.

Manila filed its South China Sea territorial claims with the international arbitrary court on its own after China refused to join the proceedings.

The Philippines and China are among the countries that agreed to respect the United Nations rules regarding territorial waters. According to Russel, both parties are therefore required to follow the ruling of the Hague-based arbitration court.

Beijing has countered his argument saying that the U.N. law only covers the right to extract natural resources in disputed areas. According to China, the ongoing row with the Philippines is about sovereignty.

China's foreign affairs ministry said America's current stance on the issue is tantamount to taking Manila's side in the dispute.

Russel said his country does not take sides. He further noted that the U.S. will not interfere with the proceedings and deliberation of the arbitration court. But he made it clear that the American government will help enforce the court's decision once it is made. He added the his government would like all claimants to settle their disputes through legal and nonbelligerent means.

Various Asian countries in the region have conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea. The Philippines along with Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei as well as Taiwan, are pressing their own overlapping claims.

China is laying territorial claim to a large portion of the South China Sea. Beijing has conducted simultaneous land building projects on several islets in the hotly contested region to assert its control. Other claimant countries including the United States have voice their apprehension over China's actions.

TagsChina-Philippines, spratly land reclamation, west philippine sea, hague international arbitrary court, china US dispute, Philippine South China Sea Arbitration, philippine south china sea claim, united nation convention law of the sea