Ahead of UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-moon’s visit, China on Monday lashed out at the UN arbitral tribunal hearing the Philippines’ petition on the disputed South China Sea, saying it has become a “mouthpiece of certain countries”. China’s stern statement came a day after it barred all civilian ships from entering into areas of naval drills in the disputed waters of the SCS.
The Maritime Safety Administration of China on Sunday said military exercises in certain waters of the SCS will be held from tomorrow to July 11, and all civilian vessels will be prohibited from those areas, State-run Global Times reported.