The Tribunal issued its Award Tuesday after several months of hearings and

submission of documents. China was absent throughout the proceedings, refusing to

recognize the case.
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
statement released to the media said.
Having found that none of the features claimed by China was capable of generating
an exclusive economic zone, the Tribunal found that it couldwithout delimiting a
boundarydeclare 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, it added.
BACKSTORY: The heart of the dispute over the West PH Sea
The Tribunal also said that China has violated Philippine sovereign rights.
Having found that certain areas are within the exclusive economic zone of the
Philippines, the Tribunal found that China had violated the Philippines sovereign
rights in its exclusive economic zone by (a) interfering with Philippine fishing and
petroleum exploration, (b) constructing artificial islands and (c) failing to prevent
Chinese fishermen from fishing in the zone, the tribunal statement said.
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 Tribunal further held that Chinese law enforcement vessels had unlawfully
created a serious risk of collision when they physically obstructed Philippine vessels,
it said.
READ: Chinas nine-dash line, historic rights invalidtribunal
The Spratly Islands and its many reefs are being claimed by China under its nine-
dash line claim that covers nearly the entire South China Sea including parts of the
Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
China insists it has historic rights in asserting its ownership of the region believed to
be rich in natural gas resources and also a vital trade route for international cargo
ships.
READ: China: We are the victims in dispute; wont heed UN
decision
Philippines filed its case in January 2013 following a tense standoff between Chinese
and Philippines ships at Scarborough shoal in April 2012.
Since the initiation of the arbitration case, China has conducted several massive
reclamation projects to turn submerged reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting
military structures and equipment.

Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/140358/philippines-

arbitration-decision-maritime-dispute-south-china-sea-arbitral-
tribunal-unclos-itlos#ixzz4G3p9UeXx
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook