China rejected UN mediation to resolve South China Sea dispute

China on 7 December 2014 rejected the UN arbitration to resolve the South China Sea maritime dispute with its neighbours.

In response to UN mediation sought by Philippines, Beijing in its Position Paper asserted that it should be settled through direct bilateral negotiations and not through compulsory arbitration under the UN Convention on Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).

The Position Paper was released by China in response to the UN Arbitral Tribunal demand that China should submit counter-memorial before 15 December 2014.

Background
The Philippines approached the UN body in 2013 and questioned China’s claims to the Spratly islands, called as Nansha islands by Beijing and the waters around them. As a result UN Arbitral Tribunal was appointed to deal with the issue which had asked China to file its counter-response by 15 December 2014.