Beijing has rejected a U.S. plea urging China to accept the final ruling by an international tribunal on the South China Sea dispute.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei, at a daily press briefing on Friday, made it clear that China will never change its stance on the South China Sea issue.

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"It is a sheer delusion to expect to force China into accepting the decision via diplomatic channels or public fanfare," Hong said.

He reiterated that the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) would not affect China's territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Hong's remark was made a day after a senior U.S. defense official Abraham Denmark urged China and the Philippines to comply with the ruling of the PCA and asked them to avoid provocative actions.

U.S. State Department spokesperson John Kirby also stated that the United States expects both parties to comply with their obligations and exercise restraint.

"We've said all along that we support the peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea, including the use of international legal mechanisms such as arbitration.  And as provided in the Law of the Sea Convention, the tribunal's decision in this case will be legally binding on both parties, the Philippines, and China," Kirby said at a regular press briefing on Friday.

The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration is set to deliver a final ruling on July 12 on the South China Sea territorial dispute between China and Phillippines.

The Philippines is questioning Beijing's claim to disputed territories in the South China Sea in its case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration. However, China has said that it does not recognize the jurisdiction of the tribunal and continues to maintain that it has ''indisputable sovereignty' over the contested region. 

TagsSouth China Sea, china, United States, Hague, Phillippines