On 12 July, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague rejected China’s claims of having historic title or historic rights over most of the South China Sea. The landmark case was brought by the Philippines in 2013. Chinese president Xi Jinping has rejected the ruling and said that China will not accept any claim or action based on the award.

AIIA’s National Executive Director Melissa Conley Tyler spoke to Executive Vice President of the China Institute of International Studies Dr Ruan Zongze on his reaction to the tribunal’s ruling. Dr Ruan is visiting Australia as part of the Chinese delegation for a roundtable dialogue hosted by the AIIA with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on South China Sea issues on 14 July. The dialogue focused on the key aspects of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s award and shared Australian and Chinese perspectives.

Dr Ruan Zongze is the executive vice president and senior fellow at the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), editor-in-chief of the CIIS journal China International Studies, member of UNDP Human Development Report Advisory Panel and member of ASEAN Regional Forum Experts & Eminent Persons. He has also served in the Chinese embassies in the United States (2007-2011) and United Kingdom (1996-2000). Dr Ruan received his doctorate in international relations from China Foreign Affairs University in 2005. His research areas include US foreign policy, Chinese foreign policy, international security and development.

Interviewed by: Melissa Conley Tyler

Filmed and edited by: Tarisa Yasin