Chinese President
Xi Jinping told his Philippine counterpart that
Beijing will not recognize an international arbitration ruling that has invalidated most of China's claims to virtually the entire South
China Sea, the Philippine leader's spokesman said.
The row over the disputed waters — a major global shipping route thought to be rich in oil and gas reserves — has for years marred China's relationship with the Philippines and other neighboring countries with rival territorial claims.
Beijing has transformed a string of disputed reefs into missile-protected island bases.