South China Sea ruling deepens tensions between US, China

[...] it will undermine the authority and effectiveness of international law.

Cui reiterated Beijing's support for negotiations to resolve territorial disputes, but said the ruling would set back the prospects of diplomacy in the South China Sea, where six Asian governments have competing claims.

Influential Republican Sen. John McCain was among those calling for the U.S. to regularly challenge "China's excessive maritime claims."

Since the tribunal ruled that some of China's artificial islands are "low tide elevations" that are not entitled to 12 nautical miles of territorial sea, the U.S. may be tempted to sail closer than it has in the past.