China instead urged the Philippines to resolve the dispute through negotiations and consultations.
“The award rendered on 29 October 2015 by the Arbitral Tribunal established at the request of the Republic of the Philippines (hereinafter referred to as the “Arbitral Tribunal”) on jurisdiction and admissibility of the South China Sea arbitration is null and void, and has no binding effect on China,” the statement said.
On January 22, 2013, the Philippines asked the arbitral tribunal to rule on three basic issues: The validity of China’s nine-dash lines; Low tide elevations where China has built permanent structures should be declared as forming part of the Philippine Continental shelf; and That the waters outside the 12 nautical miles surrounding the Panatag Island (Scarbourough shoal) should be declared as part of the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone.
China refused to participate in the proceedings saying the U.N. Court has no jurisdiction on the conflict.