MANILA, Philippines – It came as no surprise that Chinese media immediately rejected the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on the Philippines’ historic case against China.

On Tuesday, July 12, media organizations from Beijing called the ruling “ill-founded” and the arbitral tribunal “law-abusing.”

Announcing the decision, Chinese state media Xinhua News Agency said on Twitter that the ruling was “null and void”. (READ: TEXT: Summary of ruling on Philippines-China case)

Null and void: ill-founded award on #SouthChinaSea arbitration issued https://t.co/kFsX1gGOn3 pic.twitter.com/CU589pOIsh

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) July 12, 2016

Xinhua added that the tribunal handling the case was “unilaterally initiated by the former Philippine government” amid a “global chorus that as the panel has no jurisdiction, its decision is naturally null and void.”

In its later tweets, Xinhua also wrote that the “unilateral initiation of the South China Sea arbitration by the Philippines is out of bad faith and violates international law.” (READ: China rejects tribunal judgment on West PH Sea)

Unilateral initiation of #SouthChinaSea arbitration by the Philippines is out of bad faith, violates int’l law
https://t.co/jxR0T7JKbE

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) July 12, 2016

Other state-run media organizations echoed Xinhua’s report on Twitter.

#BREAKING The tribunal handling #SouthChinaSea arbitration issues its final award, which is widely considered null and void (Xinhua)

— CCTVNEWS (@cctvnews) July 12, 2016

#BREAKING: Law-abusing tribunal issues ill-founded award on #SouthChinaSea arbitration Tue pic.twitter.com/CbLtVaEEn8

— People’s Daily,China (@PDChina) July 12, 2016

People’s Daily China also tweeted that “China’s sovereignty, maritime rights and interest in the South China Sea will not be affected by [the] award.”

#China‘s sovereignty, maritime rights & interests in the #SouthChinaSea not to be affected by award: MOD, Tue pic.twitter.com/alnYNevshN

— People’s Daily,China (@PDChina) July 12, 2016

The tweets from Chinese media triggered angry responses from Filipino netizens.

@XHNews Go out of our waters! West PHILIPPINES Sea is Philippines’ territory!!! #CHexit

— Ate Quitz (@atequitz) July 12, 2016

@XHNews To my fellow Filipinos – This is what biased media looks like.. a state owned one with nothing but self serving interest.

— Loner System (@JoreenSoller) July 12, 2016

@XHNews honor the decision of the courts. Stop poaching the territory of the philippines! #CHexit #WestPHSea #HagueVerdict

— rye belen (@chinelas) July 12, 2016

Most of the news organizations in mainland China are state-run, with Xinhua, CCTV, and People’s Daily considered the biggest.

China has repeatedly said it would not accept judicial arbitration on the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) dispute.

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, putting it in conflict with several of its neighbors. (READ: CHEAT SHEET: What you need to know about PH-China case) – Rappler.com