By Jan HENNOP
An international tribunal will hand down a ruling on Tuesday in an increasingly bitter dispute over the South China Sea, in a closely-watched case that risks ratcheting up tensions in Southeast Asia.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) -- the world's oldest international arbitration tribunal -- will issue a written decision at 11:00 am (0900 GMT) after the Philippines challenged China's claim over much of the strategic waterway.
Manila lodged the suit against Beijing in 2013, saying after 17 years of negotiations it had exhausted all other political and diplomatic avenues.
Angered by the move, Beijing refused to participate, adding it would not comply with the ruling by a tribunal with "no jurisdiction" over the issue.
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| China's moving lines (Click Image to Enlarge) |
Legal experts agree that after three years of deliberations, two hearings and nearly 4,000 pages of evidence, the court in The Hague is likely to find in Manila's favour -- in a decision with far-reaching ramifications.
"An award from the tribunal that rejects some of China's more dubious claims would provide support for the mainstream views of other states in the region," Cecily Rose, assistant law professor of Public International Law at Leiden University, told AFP.
"China is bound to comply with the award.
"But should it refuse to do so, the tribunal has no enforcement mechanism to which it can turn," Rose said.
Read the full story at SpaceDaily
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| Summary of Philippine Claims (Click Image to Enlarge) |