Bishop: Australia isn't taking sides over the South China Sea

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says Australia isn't taking sides with regard to talks between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea.

ASEAN foreign ministers in Lao, 26 July 2016. (AAP) Source: AAP

It follows an international court ruling against China over the territorial dispute earlier this month.

China scored a diplomatic victory this week when the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) dropped any reference to the ruling from a joint statement.

Australia was the only country to issue an assertive statement over the situation.

Ms Bishop has told the ABC Australia is simply a bystander in the dispute, but supports the ruling -- which she says is binding.

The ASEAN statement is consistent with previous ASEAN statements and particularly a Foreign Minister statement from earlier this year. Likewise, Australia's position has been consistent and clear throughout and we are not a claimant State. We don't take sides in the various claims but we do uphold the rule of law and we do believe that the decision of the arbitral tribunal from the Hague is final and binding.