China violated the sovereign rights of the Philippines in an area of the South China Sea, an global tribunal ruled on Tuesday, in a closely-watched dispute that risks stoking further tensions in Southeast Asia.
Advertisement
“We will keep a close watch on the situation in the East China Sea”, he added.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – An worldwide tribunal rejected China’s extensive claims in the South China Sea in a landmark ruling Tuesday that also found the country had aggravated the seething regional dispute and violated the Philippines’ maritime rights by building up artificial islands that destroyed coral reefs and by disrupting fishing and oil exploration. China neither accepts nor recognizes the result.
In Manila, Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay called the ruling “a milestone decision”.
The United States and China often conduct military exercises in the area and regularly accuse each other of militarising the region.
Beijing insists the tribunal has no jurisdiction over the issue and that it will ignore the ruling.
The panel found China had caused “severe harm” to coral around the site of its artificial islands.
As well as China and the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam have claims on the disputed waters. Last year, the Philippines filed a case against China’s claim using the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which was signed both by the Philippines and China. “It’s really devastating for China”, said Bonnie Glaser, senior adviser for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.
China has created artificial islands, equipped with harbours and runways, on reefs in the Spratlys and other islands in the South China Sea.
The ruling comes as Beijing embarks on a high-tech ship building programme which could leave many of America’s older vessels obsolete in any future maritime conflict.
However the tribunal and the PCA have no means to enforce the verdict, with compliance left to the parties concerned.
Tribunal members also ruled that numerous islands in the Spratly chain could not be technically deemed islands, since the court ruled numerous land masses cannot sustain a “human community or independent economic life”, according to the ruling.
How Beijing responds to the ruling in the case filed by USA ally the Philippines could chart the course of global power relations in an increasingly risky hotspot.
In a statement, the foreign ministry said that China “solemnly declares that the award is null and void and has no binding force”.
“This farce is now over”, said Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in an interview with state broadcaster CCTV.
“The ruling also reaffirms Unclos as the constitution for the oceans of our planet”, Carpio said.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration said there was no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or resources.
Advertisement
Beijing has held naval drills between the Paracels and the southern Chinese island of Hainan in recent days. “Now the U.S. and its allies, along with littoral countries will put pressure on China to abide by the decision of the International Court”.
