Philippines wins case vs China! The UN Arbitral Tribunal rules in Favor of the Philippines

photo credit nationalinterest.org

The UN Arbitral Tribunal rules IN FAVOR of the Philippines. The Permanent Court of Arbitration says there is NO legal basis for China's 9-dash line claim.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has ruled, as widely expected, in favor of the Philippines, which sought a delineation of maritime entitlements in the South China Sea where it said China had violated its rights under a UN treaty that both Asian countries had signed.

One year after it held its first round of hearings on Manila's complaint, the 5-man arbitral tribunal on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea unanimously issued a finding for the Philippines.

"[The] Tribunal concluded that, as between the Philippines and China, there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources, in excess of the rights provided for by the Convention, within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line’," a press release from the PCA said.

According to the tribunal, "all of the high-tide features in the Spratly Islands (including, for example, Itu Aba, Thitu, West York Island, Spratly Island, North-East Cay, South-West Cay) are legally “rocks” that do not generate an exclusive economic zone or continental shelf."

In a statement, Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr said the Philippines “welcomes” the award from The Hague.

“Our experts are studying the Award with the care and thoroughness that this significant arbitral outcome deserves. In the meantime, we call on all those concerned to exercise restraint and sobriety,” Yasay said.

Yasay added that the Philippines "strongly affirms its respect for this milestone decision" to help address disputes in the South China Sea.

"The decision upholds international law, particularly the 1982 [UN Convention on the Law of the Sea]," he said.

Three-year process

This ruling by an arbitral tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, comes after a 3-year process pursued by Manila but snubbed by Beijing.

Source: rappler

Tweet