Defence minister says the foreign minister’s comments that the international court’s ruling is binding are consistent with Australia’s historical position

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The defence minister, Marise Payne, has supported Julie Bishop’s comments that China’s reputation will suffer if it ignores an international court ruling on the South China Sea.

She said the foreign minister’s assertion that the court ruling was binding was “completely consistent” with Australia’s historical position, and called on all parties involved in the dispute to “abide by the ruling”.

“We regard it as final, and as binding,” Payne said on Friday.

China has rejected this week’s ruling by the permanent court of arbitration in The Hague that it has no historical title over the South China Sea and that it has violated the Philippines’ economic and sovereign rights.

The judgment came down overwhelmingly in favour of claims by the Philippines and is likely to increase global diplomatic pressure on Beijing to scale back military expansion in the area.

Beijing rejects tribunal's ruling in South China Sea case Read more

By depriving certain outcrops of territorial-generating status, the ruling from the permanent court of arbitration effectively punches holes in China’s all-encompassing “nine-dash” line that stretches deep into the South China Sea.

Bishop said on Wednesday that the court ruling was about maritime rights, not sovereignty, like China has claimed.

She called on China and the Philippines to respect the outcome of that decision, saying it was final and binding, and gave “deep clarity on the international law as applicable to the South China Sea”.

She also warned China that its reputation would suffer if it ignored the decision, insisting friendly international relations were crucial to its rise.

Lu Kang, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, said Beijing was “shocked” by Bishop’s comments. China has formally protested against the “wrong remarks”.

But Payne said China should not be shocked that Australia believed the ruling was legal and binding.

“My message is the same as the foreign minister’s,” Payne said.

“The tribunal itself, in the arbitration case, was one which was established in accordance with the United Nations convention on the law of the sea. It’s a decision that is about maritime rights under that convention.

“It gives countries a clear framework for how we lawfully use our oceans. In that way we supported the rights of the countries, the Philippines in this case, to use the tribunal process to seek to resolve the disputes it had peacefully in accordance with international law.

“Across the region and more broadly, the overwhelming majority of observers regard the results of the tribunal as legal, and as binding, as does Australia,” she said.

Julie Bishop stands by South China Sea stance after sharp criticism from China Read more

“What the foreign minister has said, and what I am saying, is in fact no surprise to the Chinese government. It is our consistent position.”

Bishop has said Australia will continue freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea after the court ruling.

Payne would not comment on any operations the Australian defence force might undertake.

China has declared its right to set up an “air defence identification zone” in the area, which would demand that foreign aircraft identify themselves.

