China's Foreign Ministry on Thursday warned Australia that Beijing would sever bilateral relations with Canberra if it continues to conduct freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea.

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Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop released a statement calling on China to respect the Hague court ruling and announcing that Canberra would continue its freedom of navigation patrols.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Beijing was "shocked" by Bishop's statements on Wednesday. He noted that Australia was not a party to the case and should not, in any way, intervene in the dispute.

Irresponsible statements

Lu slammed Bishop for her "irresponsible statements," after she said that the arbitral court ruling was final and legally binding on China.

"Ms. Bishop's assertions are completely wrong. Australia should not treat the illegal ruling from an illegal arbitration court as international law," Lu pointed out.

Lu warned Bishop that if Australian forces continue to conduct aerial and naval patrols in the South China Sea, it would seriously damage bilateral relations between the two countries.

"Australia is not a party to the South China Sea issue,' Lu emphasized.

Diplomatic protest

Lu said Beijing has already lodged a diplomatic protest with the Australian Embassy for the "wrongful statements" issued by its leaders about the recent ruling on the South China Sea.

"We are firmly against this," he said.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) handed down its ruling on Tuesday on a territorial case in the South China Sea filed by the Philippines against China in 2013.

The arbitral court ruled that China has no legal basis for its expansive claims in the disputed waters. The court added that China's nine-dash line violates the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Philippines' rights to explore its exclusive economic zone.

Third party

Lu said Beijing was expecting Australia not to take any position in the case being a third party in the dispute.

"We hope Australia should firmly abide by the promise not to hold a position when there is a territorial dispute," he said.

Earlier, Beijing said its military was fully prepared to protect its security interests in the South China Sea region and defend its sovereignty.

Chinese military officials said Beijing could declare an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over the disputed waters to protect its interests.

TagsChina-Australia bilateral relations, Hague court ruling, Freedom of Navigation, naval patrols, South China Sea, Philippines, china