On Thursday, the court decided to hear the Philippines` claims to waters in the South China Sea where China has been constructing artificial islands and claiming sovereignty over the land and a 12 nautical mile zone surrounding it. The disputed territories potentially hold large reserves of oil and gas.
"We will not take part in it [the hearings], and we will never accept it," the diplomat said at a press briefing.
He added that the court’s decision to rule on the case "was made without taking into account the rights of China" and is "erroneous."
The Permanent Court of Arbitration is expected to rule on the merits of the case as early as next year.
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