India urged China on Tuesday not to reject a United Nations-backed tribunal’s ruling that Beijing had no legal basis to claim historic rights to resources within much of the South China Sea, which has been subject to territorial disputes by several countries.
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A tribunal ruled in a sweeping decision Tuesday that China has no legal basis for its extensive claims in the South China Sea and had aggravated the seething regional dispute with its large-scale land reclamation and construction of artificial islands that destroyed coral reefs and the natural condition of the disputed areas.
“China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea shall under no circumstances be affected by those awards”, the statement said, adding that “China opposes and will never accept any claim or action based on those awards”. Regardless of whether the decision favors China or the Philippines, Carlson says, the ruling will have a profound impact on the wide-ranging dispute over the South China Sea.
However, the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said “India supports freedom of navigation and over flight, and unimpeded commerce, based on the principles of worldwide law, as reflected notably in the UNCLOS”.
Beijing said the unilateral case filed by Philippines was “out of bad faith”.
China refused to take part in the case, saying it involved a determination of ownership in the South China Sea – tantamount to a ruling on sovereignty – which falls under the purview of the International Court of Justice.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), the group who pushed for the “CHexit” campaign, said that China should engage in bilateral talks with the Philippines.
The panel ruled that whatever China’s historic rights to resources in the waters of the South China Sea, they “were extinguished” when the country entered into the Convention.
Washington had carefully avoided taking a stance on the suit lodged by the Philippines against China’s maritime territorial claims, but when judgment came down, it urged both sides to abide by the result.
China and the US have been accusing one another of leading to militarization of the sea, a critical asset for global shipping and fishing that sees more than $5 trillion in maritime trade every year.
US Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and fellow Republican Dan Sullivan issued a statement encouraging other claimants, including Vietnam, to seek similar resolution of maritime disputes through arbitration and negotiation.
“Under the premise of not starting any military conflict with the US, China will at the same time increase the scope and frequency of military activities in the South China Sea to show its tough attitude in this issue”, Shi told The Irish Times.
He said maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea is vital to the ongoing prosperity of the wider Asia-Pacific region.
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China, however, said it was ready to continue to resolve the dispute peacefully by negotiation “on the basis of respecting historical facts and in accordance with global law”.
