BEIJING – China expressed thanks on Tuesday for the dozens of countries it says have offered support for its position on a case brought by the Philippines over Chinese claims in the South China Sea, saying they are speaking out to uphold justice.
China has stepped up its rhetoric ahead of an expected ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on the Philippine case.

China refuses to recognize the case and says all disputes should be resolved through bilateral talks.
The Chinese government says more than 40 countries have offered support for its position, the latest being the African nations of Sierra Leone and Kenya.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said certain unidentified countries had been trying to blacken China’s name over the South China Sea, confusing right for wrong and trying to control public opinion.
“Against this backdrop, certain friendly countries which care about China want to understand what’s really going on,” Lu told a daily news briefing.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/global-filipino/world/06/14/16/china-thanks-countries-for-supporting-it-over-south-china-sea