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| Taiping Island |
By Kuan-Hsiung Wang
Manila is undermining its own efforts to resolve South China Sea disputes.
Rising tensions in the South China Sea are threatening peace and stability in the region, one of the world’s most important shipping channels. In recent months, amid growing concern in the international community, there has been considerable media coverage of the arbitration filed by the Philippines at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) concerning the legality of mainland China’s claims in the South China Sea.
Thus far, two hearings have been held by the Arbitral Tribunal – one concerning jurisdiction and admissibility in July 2015, with the Tribunal subsequently ruling on October 29 that it had the power to hear the case, and another on the merits in the last week of November 2015. In the arbitration, the Philippines challenged the status of Taiping Island (Itu Aba), which is part of the sovereign territory of the Republic of China (Taiwan). By claiming that Taiping Island constitutes a rock rather than an island, the Philippines is undermining efforts to resolve disputes and promote stability.
Read the full story at The Diplomat