MANILA, Philippines — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi insisted that Beijing will not accept the arbitration case filed by Manila in connection to the disputed South China Sea.

Wang claimed that the arbitration case filed by the Philippines before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands violates its bilateral commitments to China.

READ: China says it won't budge on South China Sea sovereignty | China: We have legal evidence to reject arbitration

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario earlier called on China to respect the forthcoming decision of the international tribunal.

The Philippines is expecting the final ruling of the arbitration case by May. — Efigenio Toledo IV and Patricia Lourdes Viray