China urges the Philippines to stop hyping up the South China Sea issue through multilateral platforms and return to the track of bilateral negotiations, Chinese Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Sun Lei said on Monday.

Sun made the remarks when exercising the right of reply to the Philippines at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly.

Sun said the so-called "South China Sea arbitration" unilaterally initiated by the Philippines violated fundamental principles of international law, including state consent and pacta sunt servanda, and contravened the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The "arbitral tribunal" exceeded its authority and abused its jurisdiction, and the "award" is naturally illegal, null and void, and has no binding force, seriously undermining the principles and spirit of UNCLOS and challenging the authority and integrity of international law of the sea, he said.

China does not accept or recognize the "award," and opposes and does not accept any claim or action based on it, Sun said.

This is not only about safeguarding China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, but also about upholding the rule of law at sea and a fair and equitable international maritime order, he said.

The so-called "award" has not resolved the maritime issues between China and the Philippines, but instead exacerbated regional tensions and become a stumbling block to China-Philippines relations and peace and stability in the South China Sea, Sun said.

China does not accept any dispute settlement solution imposed on it and has consistently advocated resolving territorial and maritime delimitation disputes through negotiation and consultation with countries directly concerned, he said.

China will continue to work with ASEAN countries to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, Sun added.