The U.S. and India have once again asked China to respect the United Nations-backed arbitration court's ruling on its territorial dispute with the Philippines over the South China Sea.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj issued a joint statement, urging China to recognize the international tribunal's ruling and follow the rule of law in the contested waters.

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"In the context of recent developments, US and India stressed the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation, freedom of overflight, and unimpeded lawful commerce throughout the region, including in the South China Sea," the joint statement said. "The sides urged the utmost respect for international law, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)."

"They reiterated that States should resolve disputes through peaceful means, and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability."

In July, the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled against China in favor of the Philippines in a long-standing territorial dispute over the South China Sea. The U.N.-backed international tribunal rejected Beijing's claims over the contested waters region saying that China has no legal authority to claim the contested territory. China, which is laying claim almost 80 percent of the region, opposed the ruling, describing it as "null and void."

China is hosting the G20 Summit on September 4 and 5 in Hangzhou. U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the two-day summit. 

Tagschina, US, India, South China Sea, South China Sea Dispute