SINGAPORE–The mainland Chinese authorities have asked Singapore to “respect” China’s position on the outcome of a recent ruling by an international tribunal and a consensus Beijing said it has reached with ASEAN.

In a statement on Friday, mainland China external affrairs spokesman Hua Chunying said mainland China had made its position on the issue “very clear.” “The related ruling is illegal, invalid and has no binding force,” she said.

“China hopes that Singapore … can maintain an objective and fair position as the coordinator of China and ASEAN dialogue relations, so as to advance Sino-Singapore relations and promote healthy and stable China-ASEAN ties.”

Hua was responding to media queries on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s remarks in Washington on Tuesday that the ruling of the tribunal made a “strong statement” about what the international law is in maritime disputes.

One question also quoted Lee as saying as a small country, Singapore hopes all countries can respect the international law and accept the outcome of the tribunal ruling, which was slightly different from what was actually said. The Chinese media had reported his remarks.

At a reception hosted by the United States Chamber of Commerce and U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, Lee had said: “Ideally, international tribunal rulings set the order for the world because, ideally, when you have disputes between countries, it is much better to have an arbitration and adjudication based on acknowledged principles than to fight it out and see whose guns are more powerful. Speaking from the point of view of a small country, this is all the more (a) fundamental, important principle.”

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/singapore/2016/08/08/474735/Respect-our.htm