South China Sea joint statement says China’s maritime claims have no basis

(Reuters) - China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea have no legal basis, Japan, the ​Philippines, the United States and 11 other countries said in a ‌joint statement on Sunday to mark the 10th anniversary of a landmark international tribunal ruling.

The Philippines won the 2016 case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration that found China's sweeping claim ​of sovereignty in the South China Sea had no basis under ​international law, a decision that Beijing continuously rejects.

• "We reaffirm that the ⁠award rendered 10 years ago by the Arbitral Tribunal is a significant milestone ​and is final, legally binding and definitive between China and the Philippines," the joint ​statement said.

• The Philippines and China have been involved in a series of maritime confrontations in recent years.

• Manila accuses Beijing of "dangerous manoeuvres" inside its exclusive economic zone.

• Besides Japan, the ​Philippines and the United States, parties to the joint statement include Australia, Britain, ​Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Romania and Slovenia.

• China's foreign ministry on ‌Sunday reiterated ⁠the country's sovereignty claims, blaming intensified military deployments by outside powers including the U.S. for tensions in the South China Sea.

• "The so-called award is nothing but a piece of waste paper that is illegal, null and void, and has no ​binding force," the ministry ​said in a ⁠statement.

• It called on relevant countries to respect China's territorial and maritime rights and stop actions that undermine regional stability.

• ​In a separate statement late on Sunday, the ministry said ​it summoned ⁠the chief minister of Japan's embassy in Beijing to protest against remarks by Japan's foreign minister marking the anniversary of the ruling, as well as the joint statement.

• ⁠Beijing ​will "firmly and forcefully" respond to what it described ​as Japanese provocations, the ministry said, adding it also complained to Japan over issues including Taiwan.