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Philippines Wins VS China
The United Nations (UN) Arbitral Tribunal has finally recognized the Philippines’ exclusive sovereign rights over the West Philippines Sea (in the South China Sea) and the invalidity of China’s “nine-dash line”.
The decision was issued Tuesday after several months of hearings and submission of documents. China was absent in all proceedings considering they refuse to recognize the case.
“The Tribunal concluded that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the “nine-dash line,” said the UN Arbitral Tribunal in a statement.
“Having found that none of the features claimed by China was capable of generating an exclusive economic zone, the Tribunal found that it could—without delimiting a boundary—declare that certain sea areas are within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, because those areas are not overlapped by any possible entitlement of China,” it added.
“Having found that certain areas are within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, the Tribunal found that China had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone by (a) interfering with Philippine fishing and petroleum exploration, (b) constructing artificial islands and (c) failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing in the zone,” the tribunal statement said.
“The Tribunal further held that Chinese law enforcement vessels had unlawfully created a serious risk of collision when they physically obstructed Philippine vessels,” it said.
Included in the West Philippines Sea / South China Sea are the Spratlys Islands that is being claimed by China under its “nine-dash line”. Those are also included in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone.
China is insistent on its “historic rights” on its ownership of the region.
The Philippines filed its case in January 2013 after the standoff between Chinese and Philippines fleet at Scarborough shoal in April 2012.
