Defense spokesperson denounces “South China Sea arbitration” as political farce

BEIJING, July 17 — A Chinese defense spokesperson on Friday said that the “South China Sea arbitration” is a political farce masquerading as a legal process, and the so-called award carries no legal force in any sense.

Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the comment in response to a media query regarding the Philippine defense secretary’s recent visit to Zhongye Dao to take part in the activities commemorating the 10th anniversary of the so-called “South China Sea arbitration award.”