(Opinion) Beijing has case for 'historic rights' at sea
2016-03-12 09:17:17 source:Global Times
By Sourabh Gupta
March 10, 2016
"From time immemorial, traditional Chinese fishermen have continuously, reasonably and with certainty plied their trade in the semi-enclosed waters of the South China Sea. These traditional fishing practices date back a long time, have been invariable and unbroken, and conform to basic principles of justice and utility. In effect, these practices have acquired the force of law, crystallized into a privately-held "historic right" and constitute a local custom.
By way of the crystallization of this right in the possession of its nationals, the Chinese state too has acquired a vested interest in the perpetuation of this 'historic right' in the South China Sea. And to the extent that the Nine Dash Line serves as the perimeter of this historically-consolidated right of traditional Chinese fishermen in the South China Sea, the line has a durable basis in international law and is fully deserving of its protections."
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