China on Friday reiterated its stance of non-acceptance and non-participation in the South China Sea arbitration case, adding that the case is a "political farce" unilaterally brought up by the Philippines to cover up its acts of illegal encroachment of Chinese territory.

China also warned the Philippine's approach to territorial disputes set a dangerous precedent as it would allow other countries to be dragged into arbitration cases involuntarily.

The UN arbitration court in the Hague is due to release the ruling at the end of May or in June.

Ouyang Yujing, director-general of Chinese Foreign Ministry's Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs, told reporters at a press conference in Beijing that the Chinese government's attitude on the case is clear, which is that the case has been illegal from the beginning.

"There have been major flaws and errors in the arbitral proceeding of the case in terms of laws, facts and evidence," Ouyang said.

He emphasized that the Philippines did not engage in any negotiations with China before it made the submissions at the UN arbitration court but went on to claim that it has "exhausted all negotiation measures."

"This case is a reality check to some countries because over 30 countries in the world have excluded themselves from compulsory arbitration following Article 298 of UNCLOS. This case shows that such countries can get involved involuntarily in arbitration cases and be totally unaware of it. And this is a great harm to the international rule of law," Ouyang said.

The US has not ratified UNCLOS. The UK said it remains ready to consider the submission of disputes on a case-by-case basis, according to UN website.

The real intention of the Philippines, Ouyang said, was to negate China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and cover up its illegal occupation of eight Chinese islands and reefs in the Nansha islands.

He said the territorial limits of the Philippines are decided by three international treaties - the 1898 Treaty of Paris, the 1900 Treaty of Washington and the 1930 convention between the US and the UK.

"According to such conventions, the western limit of the Philippine territory is 118 degrees east longitude. China's Nansha Islands and Huangyan Island are to the west of this line, meaning all these islands are beyond the Philippine territory," Ouyang said.

Since the 1960s, he claimed, the Philippines has engaged in territorial expansion and moved beyond the 118 degrees east longitude line.

"The essence of the lawsuit from the Philippine side is to cover the fact of its illegal occupation of Chinese islands and reefs," Ouyang said, adding that the Philippines is trying to deceive the international opinion.

When asked about China's final goal on the South China Sea, Ouyang said China wishes to settle the disputes.

Since the 1960s, China has resolved territorial disputes with 12 out of 14 of its land neighbors through negotiations and consultations.

"It is important for the nation to reiterate our stance, which is reasonable and legal, at this particular time," Chen Xiangmiao, a research fellow at the National Institute for the South China Sea, told the Global Times on Friday.

It will also help China lay a foundation and get better prepared to handle more pressure from international public opinion, according to Chen.