Malaysia can play a key role in triggering diplomatic talks between China and the countries keen on resolving the disputes in the South China Sea, according to Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) College of Law, Government and International Studies Dean, Assoc. Prof Dr Ahmad Martadha Mohamed.
Advertisement
China reasserted its claims to the area, which extend nearly to the coasts of neighbouring states, after the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) tribunal in The Hague backed the Philippines’ case that there was no legal basis for them.
Except for Vietnam, which welcomed Tuesday’s ruling against China, most ASEAN members issued relatively tame reactions. Beijing reacted angrily, claiming it had historical rights to the sea and rejecting the tribunal’s ruling.
“The South China Sea ruling, especially the categorisation of Taiping island, has severely jeopardised our country’s rights in the South China Sea islands and their relevant waters”, Tsai told soldiers on the deck of ship.
“Despite the opposition of Vietnam and concerns by the global community, those actions conducted by China have seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty and are unlawful and can not change the fact about Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes”, Binh told reporters, referring to the Paracel and Spratly islands in the South China Sea.
China has also in recent years built giant artificial islands capable of hosting military installations and airstrips in the Spratlys archipelago, one of the biggest groups of features in the sea. If newly elected President Rodrigo Duterte leans toward a pro-Beijing line on the promise of economic assistance, it could undermine the bloc’s unity.
Beijing has said all along that it would not abide by the ruling of the The Hague-based tribunal, refusing to take part in the hearing since Manila filed the case in January 2013.
The whitepaper, released yesterday by China’s State Council Information Office, accused the Philippines of “having increasingly intensified its infringement of China’s maritime and interests”. At least two members, Cambodia and Laos, are aligned with China and have been known to have blocked stronger ASEAN statements on the territorial disputes. Beijing says it does not recognize the decision. Its derisive dismissal of the tribunal’s verdict now is untenable.
The World Weekly covered the outcome of the tribunal on Tuesday.
Indonesia outlined its self-defence plan after the ruling.
Reuters asks whether Washington can prevent war in southeast Asia.
Angry Chinese citizens vented their spleen online but authorities reportedly censored the most aggressive comments, and imposed tight security around the Philippine embassy amid fears of protests.
Al Jazeera looks at the implications of the ruling for China’s row with Japan in the East China Sea.
Advertisement
The disputes have increased friction between China and the United States, which has ramped up its military presence in the region as China has expanded its navy’s reach farther offshore.
