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| Map showing South East Asia Countries Claims |
The Philippines filed the case in January 2013 following the intense activity of China over the South China Sea (which is named West Philippine Sea by the Philippines). China guards the islands with military ships and blocking Filipino fisherman within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone. China also build structure and even conduct land reclamation.
After almost three years, the tribunal issued the award after months of hearings and submission of documents, but China did not participate throughout the proceedings believing that
“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,”
“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,” the statement released to the media.
The Tribunal thus also conclude that China has violated Philippines sovereign rights.
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| Chinese blocking a Philippine supply boat to Ayungin Shoal March 29, 2014. Photo by Jay Directo/AFP |
“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.
The West Philippine is believed to be rich in natural resources such as marine resources and especially natural gasses.
China remain to stand their beliefs and does not respect the results of the case. They believe that this is null and void.
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