Philippines wins arbitration case vs China

Finally it has been choosen that the Philippines has the exclusive sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea (in the South China Sea) and that China's "nine-dash line" is invalid, as stated by the United Nations (UN) Arbitral Tribunal.

After several months of hearings and submission of documents the Tribunal issued its Award Tuesday July 12, 2016. Throughout the proceedings China was absent and refusing to recognize the case.

 "The Tribunal inferred that there was no legitimate basis for China to declare historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling inside the 'nine-dash line," the announcement released to the media said. 

"Having found that none of the property declare by China was able for producing an exclusive economic zone, the Tribunal found that it could—without delimiting a limit—proclaim that specific sea ranges are inside the restrictive economic zone of the Philippines,  on the grounds that those zones are not covered by any conceivable right of China," it included.

The Tribunal additionally said that China has violated Philippine sovereign rights.

"Having found that specific regions are inside the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, the Tribunal found that China had abused the Philippines' sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone by (a) meddling with Philippine fishing and petroleum exploration, (b) developing manufactured islands and (c) neglecting to keep Chinese fishermen from fishing in the zone," the tribunal statement said.

“Chinese law enforcement vessels had unlawfully made a serious risk of collision when they physically hindered Philippine vessels, “the Tribunal further said.

The Spratly Islands and its numerous reefs are being asserted by China under its "nine-dash line" claim that covers about the whole South China Sea including parts of the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

China demands it has "historic rights" in stating its ownership of the region that is to believe to be rich in natural gas resources furthermore a vital trade course for international cargo ships. 

Philippines documented its case in January 2013 after a strained standoff amongst Chinese and Philippines ships at Scarborough reef in April 2012.

Since the start of the arbitration case, China has manage a few massive reclamation activities to transform submerged reefs into fake islands equipped for facilitating military structures and gear. 

China's reclamation activities have frightened other Southeast Asian countries, especially Vietnam, that likewise have contending claims in the South China Ocean.

Source: Inquirer.net