By Chris Whomersley

June 16, 2016

"As is now well known, the Philippines has brought arbitration proceedings against China under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea relating to the South China Sea, and the Tribunal has recently given its decision on whether it has jurisdiction over the claims made by the Philippines. It found that it had jurisdiction, although unconditionally only over three of the 15 submissions made by the Philippines. The Tribunal has since heard argument on the merits of the various claims, and is likely to give its ruling on them later this year. But looked at critically the decision of the Tribunal that it has jurisdiction has a number of weaknesses.

As background, UNCLOS emphasizes that the States bordering a semi-enclosed sea, like the South China Sea, should cooperate together in dealing with common issues, even when there is no agreement about the maritime boundaries between them."

Read more:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2016-06/16/content_25728164.htm

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