MANILA, Philippines — Appearing to take a cue from President Rodrigo Duterte’s past remarks, China has called the Philippines’ 2016 landmark victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration “nothing more than a piece of waste paper,” drawing protests in Manila for the “disrespectful, crass statements.”
“The [arbitral award] is illegal, null and void. It is nothing more than a piece of waste paper. China does not accept or participate in the arbitration, nor does it accept or recognize the award,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a press briefing in Beijing on Monday, the fifth anniversary of the ruling issued in The Hague.
On Tuesday, militant groups Bay…
Keep on reading: Groups protest after Beijing calls WPS ruling ‘a piece of waste paper’