Chinese foreign minister says ruling was ‘manipulated by external powers’, while embassy in Manila dismisses it as ‘political circus’.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that against the backdrop of rampant unilateralism and protectionism, China and ASEAN countries are demonstrating a strong desire to support each other, unite and cooperate, and jointly meet challenges.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in Europe to set the tone for the upcoming EU-China Summit, but the differences are such between the two sides that the summit could become meaningless and get condensed to a one-day affair.