IN line with the Philippines' commemoration of the July 12, 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling against China on the South China Sea (SCS) issue, the United States on Wednesday urged Beijing to cease its routine harassment of claimant state vessels lawfully operating in the area.

'We continue to urge Beijing to comport its maritime claims with international law as reflected in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention and end its interference with the freedoms of navigation and overflight of states lawfully operating in the region,' US Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller said.