(Opinion) Justice Not Served by Tribunal's Ruling on South China Sea
2016-07-27 08:51:12 source：South China Morning Post
By Tony Carty
July 25, 2016
"The Permanent Court of Arbitration decision on the South China Sea that none of the geographical features in the Spratly archipelago are islands, in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, deprives whoever owns them of any right to claim an exclusive economic zone or a continental shelf. China makes such a claim, of course.
The tribunal's main argument against the status of the Spratlys as islands is the relative lack of habitation and economic activity on the islands. Therefore, the history of arguments about the basis of title to territory is relevant background to the award, even though the latter is ostensibly not about territorial title."
NISCSS does not necessarily share in or endorse the opinions of off-site commentators.