China's foreign minister Wang Yi and US secretary of state John Kerry had a telephonic conversation a week before the international court ruling over China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. 

Wang reiterated that Beijing would not accept the International Court of Arbitration's decision as it had no jurisdiction in the case, which was brought on by Philippines, challenging China's claims of sovereignty on nearly the entire maritime region.

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"The farce of the arbitration court should come to an end," Wang said, according to Channel News Asia.

The warning comes amid rising tensions ahead of the July 12 ruling by the international court, which is located in the Dutch city of The Hague. US officials have stated that if China keeps their word and reject the ruling, which is expected to go in Philippines' favor, they will increase freedom-of-navigation patrols in the disputed resource-rich waters of the South China Sea.

During his phone conversation with Kerry on Wednesday, Wang "urged the United States to honor its commitment to not to take sides on issues related to sovereign disputes, to be prudent with its actions and words, and not to take any actions that infringe upon the sovereignty and security interests of China," according to Xinhua.

Wang said that notwithstanding the UN-backed tribunal's decision, Beijing would take firm action to protect its territorial sovereignty and rights over the disputed waterway and maintain peace and stability in the maritime region, which has been claimed by other Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

He added that United States should stick to its commitment of being neutral on issues associated with sovereign disputes and avoid taking any action that would violate the sovereignty and security interests of China.

The US state department confirmed that a telephone call did take place between Kerry and Wang, but refused to provide any further details.

Beijing has expressed its anger over the presence of US patrols in the South China Sea over the last few months and started naval drills in the waters of the Paracel islands on Tuesday. A local media outlet also said that China should be prepared for military confrontation in the South China Sea, as we previously reported.

US officials have expressed the concern that China would declare the maritime region an air defense identification zone following the international court's ruling, just like it did in the East China Sea in 2013.

Tagschina, US, South China Sea, international court ruling, The Hague, South China Sea Dispute, Philippines, Wang Yi, John Kerry