China has called on the Philippines to halt its international court proceedings and settle their territorial dispute in the South China Sea region through bilateral negotiations.

"China urges the Philippines to immediately cease its wrongful conduct of pushing forward the arbitral proceedings, and return to the right path of settling the relevant disputes in the South China Sea through bilateral negotiation with China," the Chinese foreign ministry said.  

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Beijing would not accept any forcefully imposed settlement or mediation by a third party in the disputed matter, China's foreign ministry said. The ministry also accused the Philippines of being provocative and unceremoniously closing doors on negotiations.                

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, Netherlands is expected to make a ruling on the South China Sea case in the coming weeks. The judgment is expected to go against China.     

The international community has called on China to accept the court's judgment. However, international pressure has had the least impact as Beijing has categorically stated that it would neither participate in court proceeding nor accept the ruling.   

The Philippines' President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has said he is open to bilateral dialogue with China to solve South China Sea dispute. Experts say that Duterte's friendly gesture has created an opening to revive dialogue with China. Duterte is expected to follow a more moderate policy in regards to the South China Sea than his predecessor Benigno Aquino, whose confrontational policy was instrumental in dragging China to arbitration court last year.

Tagschina, Philippines, South China Sea Dispute, China and Philippines