A tribunal in The Hague has rejected China’s claims to the economic rights to resources in large sections of the South China Sea. The Philippines requested the arbitration, and the ruling is widely viewed as a victory for the country. “There was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line,’” the court said in a 497-page ruling. The area, which is replete with fishing, mineral, and energy resources, has been contested for years. In addition to the rejection of China’s claims, the tribunal also contends that Chinese construction work has caused irreparable damage to coral reefs and that law-enforcement officials from the country have nearly hit many fishing ships from the Philippines. China has responded by arguing that the tribunal’s ruling is “illegal and invalid.” China added, “The arbitration tribunal has no jurisdiction on this matter.”
