Tuesday, July 12, 2016

International tribunal has ruled against Chinese claims to rights in the South China Sea, backing a case brought by the Philippines.

An arbitration tribunal in The Hague has rejected China's claims to economic rights across large swathes of the South China Sea, in a ruling that will be claimed as a victory by the Philippines.

"There was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the 'nine-dash line'," the Permanent Court of Arbitration said on Tuesday, referring to a demarcation line on a 1947 map of the sea.

The South China Sea is a resource-rich strategic waterway through which more than $5 trillion of world trade is shipped each year.

In the 497-page ruling, the court also found that Chinese law enforcement patrols had risked colliding with Philippine fishing vessels in parts of the sea and caused irreparable damage to coral reefs with construction work.

China, which boycotted the case brought by the Philippines, rejected the ruling, saying its islands had exclusive economic zones and the Chinese people have more than 2,000 years of history of activities there.

China has sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea, including the Spratlys and Paracels, and Beijing's position is consistent with international law and practice, the Chinese foreign ministry added.

The Philippines welcomed the ruling and called "on those concerned to exercise restraint and sobriety".   

Perfecto Yasay, the Philippine foreign secretary, said in Manila the "milestone decision" was an important contribution to efforts in addressing disputes in the sea.

"The Philippines reiterates its abiding commitment to efforts of pursuing the peaceful resolution and management of disputes with the view of promoting and enhancing peace and stability in the region," he said.

The ruling is expected to further increase tensions in the region, where China's increased military assertiveness has spread concern among its smaller neighbours and  is a point of confrontation with the United States.
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
 12/7/16
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1 comment :

  1. Law-abusing tribunal issues ill-founded award on S. China Sea arbitration ...

    The tribunal handling the South China Sea arbitration case unilaterally initiated by the former Philippine government issued its final award on Tuesday, amid a global chorus that as the panel has no jurisdiction, its decision is naturally null and void.

    A source with the Philippine Foreign Ministry told Xinhua that the ministry has received the award.
    Xinhua

    ReplyDelete

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