Satellite photo dated March 28, 2018 shows the Woody Island, part of Vietnam's Paracel Islands. Photo by Planet Labs Inc/Handout via Reuters.

In its diplomatic note, New Zealand ruled out legal ground for  claim for historical rights of waters in the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) as confirmed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)’s ruling in the settlement of the East Sea issue in 2016.

New Zealand made it clear that the court ruling is final and binding to all parties.