A dozen young Chinese international law scholars in the Netherlands are preparing to release an open letter to contest the erroneous exercise of jurisdiction and abuse of the legal process in the South China Sea arbitration.

Over 400 overseas Chinese and 300 scholars and students have signed the upcoming letter since April, Peng Qinxuan, 29,  the initiator and a doctoral candidate of international law at Utrecht University, told the Global Times.

"The Philippine appeal is inconceivable and does not touch on the essence. It is more like a provocation and will ultimately return to negotiations," said Peng. 

The open letter will also highlight the significance of state consent as the very foundation of international judicial and arbitral organs, and calls attention to the dangerous tendency toward the judicial and arbitral expansion in the field of the Law of the Sea, said the drafters.

According to Peng, a dozen Chinese students who specialize in international law and the Law of the Sea, set up a research group for the drafting of the open letter. They openly support China's stance on South China Sea issue through social media accounts like Wechat, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Separately, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday China-US relations are generally on a sound track, following  a phone conversation with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Wang said the two sides should further focus on cooperation while properly managing their differences to push forward the new type of major power relations between the two countries.

Wang added the so-called South China Sea arbitration is tainted "with illogical and flawed application of procedures, laws and evidence."

"Therefore, the arbitral tribunal which clearly has been expanding and over-stretching its jurisdiction beyond its limits has no jurisdiction at all (over the South China Sea disputes)," Wang said.

"Any award it makes in disregard of the laws and facts is naturally not legally binding," Wang added.

Wang urged the US to honor its commitment not to take sides on issues related to sovereign disputes, be prudent with its actions and words, and avoid any action that infringes upon the sovereignty and security interests of China.

Kerry, for his part, said the US understands that China has its own stance on the arbitration. He also expressed the hope that all relevant parties show restraint.