News
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South China Sea court loss takes initiative away from China
The Spratly Islands are henceforth no longer islands, but demoted to lowly rocks and low-tide features. That is one of the far-reaching implications from this week’s portentous ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) tribunal, on the dispute brought by the Philippines against China in the South China Sea. No judgment was made about sovereignty, but all five judges…
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‘NO HISTORIC RIGHTS’ Int’l tribunal invalidates China’s nine-dash line, massive claims
The Philippines on Tuesday scored a victory against China in a landmark ruling by an international tribunal that invalidated Beijing’s massive claims in South China Sea. “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’,” the Permanent Court of Arbitration said in a…
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Singapore urges ‘self-restraint’ from all parties after South China Sea ruling
SINGAPORE: Following the Hague tribunal’s ruling on the South China Sea, Singapore has urged all parties to “fully respect legal and diplomatic processes, exercise self-restraint and avoid conducting any activities that may raise tensions in the region”. The United Nations-backed tribunal said Beijing has no legal basis to claim “historic rights” to islands in the South China Sea. Singapore’s Ministry…
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South China Sea Ruling Could Pose Dilemma for Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte
An international tribunal overwhelmingly backed Manila’s arguments over Beijing’s conduct in disputed waters The Philippines urged China “to exercise restraint and sobriety” after an international tribunal overwhelmingly backed Manila in a legal case concerning Beijing’s conduct in the disputed South China Sea, a decision that may complicate newly elected President Rodrigo Duterte’s plans to reset relations with China. http://www.wsj.com/articles/tribunal-ruling-on-south-china-sea-could-create-dilemma-for-philippines-duterte-1468323025
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Brexit and the South China Sea: Why Politicians Lie
Why the cost of lying in domestic and international politics should not be underestimated. China’s so-called historic rights in the South China Sea are bogus (see here, and here.) Since the 1990s, Chinese leaders and politicians have consciously been spreading false historic evidence about purported ancient Chinese possessions in the disputed waters, not only to rally domestic support for China’s…
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Making political hay after the arbitration ruling on South China Sea
South-east Asian states should understand the region’s strategic realities. They should focus on building relations, and respond with resolve and restraint, after the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling on the South China Sea. Today, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) will issue its ruling on the Philippines’ case against China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea. Many worry about…
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Is China on the brink of “going rogue” over the South China Sea decision?
Today (July 12) may be remembered as an important milestone in world history—an international court in The Hague will rule on a sensitive case that pits the Philippines against China over disputed territory in the South China Sea. Technically, the case is about the status of certain reefs and rocks in the sea, and consequently how much sea around them…
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Philippines wins case vs China
Tribunal concluded that, “as between the Philippines and China, there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources, in excess of the rights provided for by the Convention, within the sea areas falling within the nine-dash line.” http://www.rappler.com/nation/137202-philippines-china-ruling-case-west-philippine-sea
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No government change on South China Sea claims
The government’s stance on the South China Sea issue remains unchanged, despite the ruling expected today from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China, Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang (黃重諺) said yesterday. All relevant agencies have a decent grasp of the case, Huang told a routine media briefing. “The agencies…
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RI urged to support int’l tribunal ruling
Making up roughly half of the population of Southeast Asia, Indonesia stands to lose a lot from the looming danger of flaring tensions in the South China Sea (SCS). Open conflict in the region’s main waterway will undoubtedly become an impediment to the country’s maritime axis plans, as well as to its economic growth and development. Beyond national interests, an…
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South China Sea: Beijing watches as The Hague ruling looms
An island outpost, one of several, being built by China in the South China Sea. China is set to hear some major news on Tuesday, and it’s likely to have a profound impact on the busiest commercial waterway on earth. A tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, is expected to rule on a dispute between…
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Landmark ruling on South China Sea: All about the case
MANILA, PHILIPPINES: A landmark ruling on an arbitration case filed by the Philippines that seeks to strike down China’s expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea will be a test for international law and world powers. China, which demands one-on-one talks to resolve the disputes, has boycotted the case and vowed to ignore the verdict, which will be handed…