People’s Daily joins Beijing blitz against Philippines over 2016 South China Sea ruling

Official Communist Party paper slams verdict as ‘destabilising force’ as it runs twin commentaries in run-up to 10th anniversary of ruling In twin commentaries published on Friday, the People’s Daily branded the July 12 decision of 2016 a “destabilising force” and demanded that Manila pivot to direct talks. China did not take part in the arbitration case at The Hague initiated by the Philippines in 2013, nor does it recognise the verdict, which invalidated key elements of Beijing’s claims in the contested waters. Yet the ruling remains a permanent friction point, souring Beijing’s relations with Manila and other rival South China Sea claimants. China “would never be bound” by the ruling “under any circumstances”, one of Friday’s People’s Daily commentaries asserted.

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