DHAKA: An arbitration tribunal in The Hague has rejected China’s claims to economic rights across large swathes of the South China Sea, in a ruling that will be claimed as a victory by the Philippines.

‘There was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the “nine-dash line”,’ the Permanent Court of Arbitration said on Tuesday, referring to a demarcation line on a 1947 map of the sea, reports the BBC.

The South China Sea is a resource-rich strategic waterway through which more than $5 trillion of world trade is shipped each year.

In the 497-page ruling, the court also found that Chinese law enforcement patrols had risked colliding with Philippine fishing vessels in parts of the sea and caused irreparable damage to coral reefs with construction work.

China, which boycotted the case brought by the Philippines, has said it will not be bound by any ruling.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said in Manila the ‘milestone decision’ was an important contribution to efforts in addressing disputes in the sea.

‘The Philippines reiterates its abiding commitment to efforts of pursuing the peaceful resolution and management of disputes with the view of promoting and enhancing peace and stability in the region,’ he said.

The ruling is expected to further increase tensions in the region, where China’s increased military assertiveness has spread concern among its smaller neighbors and is a point of confrontation with the United States.

BDST: 1619 HRS, JUL 12, 2016
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