China rapped Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Tuesday ahead of her visit to Beijing after she said Australia recognize the Philippines' right to seek arbitration in its dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea.

China claims much of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of trade moves annually. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have rival claims.

The Philippines has challenged Beijing at an arbitration court in The Hague over Chinese claims. Beijing has repeatedly and angrily said it will not recognize the case.