China Urges U.S. to Stand down on South China Sea Issue (Xinhua, 29 February 2016)

China has urged the United States to not position itself as the “international judge” on the South China Sea issue. Hong Lei, a spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, made the remarks at a daily press briefing after Daniel Kritenbrink, U.S. White House senior director for Asian affairs, said that a ruling by The Hague on a complaint lodged by the Philippines “will be binding on both parties.”