A state-run Chinese daily has issued an insult and a warning to Australia to keep away from the South China Sea dispute. In a Global Times editorial, Australia was referred to as a a ‘paper cat’ and an ‘ideal target to warn and strike’ should any conflict arise in the the contested South China Sea. Sputnik reports: The Global Times, known for a hardline nationalist editorial line, blasted Canberra on Saturday, in an opinion piece titled “‘Paper Cat’ Australia Will Learn its Lesson,” for supporting the July 12 ruling by the international arbitration tribunal at The Hague countering Beijing’s historical claims to the South China Sea. Beijing denounced the decision and has refused to abide by the tribunal’s findings arguing that the court lacked requisite jurisdiction because China never submitted to bilateral arbitration – a position supported by legal scholars who argue that the Philippines unilateral call for judgment was not binding. Australia, joined by the United States and Japan, immediately called on Beijing to act in accordance with the ruling claiming it was China’s responsibility under international law despite the fact that Canberra, Washington, and Tokyo are not parties to the territorial dispute. Chinese nationalists have not taken to this outward exertion of pressure for the country to relinquish control over the valuable [...]
