Hague court agrees to take up South China Sea row

[Little Tich]

Source: Yahoo! News / AFP

The Hague (AFP) - An international tribunal ruled Thursday it had the power to hear a case brought by the Philippines over disputed islands in the South China Sea, in a move likely to trigger fury in Beijing.

Manila has insisted the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which the Philippines and China have both ratified, should be used to resolve the bitter territorial row over isolated reefs and islets, which has triggered growing international alarm.

But China has refused to participate in the proceedings, arguing the Permanent Court of Arbitration -- which is more than a century old and based in The Hague -- had no jurisdiction over the case.

"Reviewing the claims submitted by the Philippines, the tribunal has rejected the argument" by China that the "dispute is actually about sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and therefore beyond the tribunal's jurisdiction," the court said in a statement.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/hague-court-agrees-south-china-sea-row-172054472.html

[Lurks Often]

1. What happens when China refuses to abide by the ruling?

Russia will almost certainly veto any resolution penalizing China that makes it to the UN Security Council.


Unfortunately I see China as becoming expansionistic and with India, Russia and Japan preventing China from expand to the north, west, east and southwest that only leaves them room to expand to the southeast.

[geek tragedy]

4. That's why the US navy is running exercises there.

Somebody has to keep them in check

[Lurks Often]

5. I agree, I just don't like what I am seeing

I really hope all the tough talk is just that and meant for domestic consumption.

While I have no doubt we would win a naval and aerial conflict with China, it still means a lot of people are going to die.

[Herman4747]

2. Sad that China Can't be a Good Neighbor. nt

[Sunlei]

3. good, China needs to be backed out of their takeover of all the small countries open seas.