Q: Polish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Bartoszewski reportedly said in a recent interview with Philippine media that China is obliged to comply with the 2016 "South China Sea arbitration award" and that Poland supports the Philippines on this issue. What is China's comment?

A: China's position on the so-called "South China Sea arbitration" is consistent and clear-cut. The so-called  arbitral award violates the basic principles of international law, including state consent and pacta sunt servanda, breaches the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and disregards the basic facts of the South China Sea. The so-called "award" is illegal, null and void, and has no binding force. It is nothing more than a piece of waste paper. China does not accept or recognize it, and opposes and does not accept any claim or action thereon based.

Poland is not a party to the South China Sea issue. We urge Poland to earnestly respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, exercise prudence in its words and deeds, and stop endorsing and supporting the illegal "award."