China expressed thanks on Tuesday, June 14 for the dozens of countries it says have offered support for its position on a case brought by the Philippines over Chinese claims in the South China Sea, saying they are speaking out to uphold justice, Reuters reports.

China has stepped up its rhetoric ahead of an expected ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on the Philippine case.

China refuses to recognize the case and says all disputes should be resolved through bilateral talks.

The Chinese government says more than 40 countries have offered support for its position, the latest being the African nations of Sierra Leone and Kenya.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said certain unidentified countries had been trying to blacken China's name over the South China Sea, confusing right for wrong and trying to control public opinion.

"Against this backdrop, certain friendly countries which care about China want to understand what's really going on," Lu told a daily news briefing, according to Reuters.

"Once they've worked out the rights and wrongs and gotten the whole story, a fair few countries are willing to speak out from a sense of justice."

"We express appreciation and thanks for this. It shows that a just cause enjoys abundant support and people have a sense of natural justice," Lu said.

While a small number of countries wanted to blacken China's name on this issue, they cannot be said to represent the international community, he added.

China claims almost all of the energy-rich South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of maritime trade passes each year. The Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan have overlapping claims.