Hague Court Deals China New Challenge to Territory Claims
- China's nine-dash line to be scrutinized by tribunal
- Decision is a blow to China's claims in South China Sea
In the second challenge to China’s sovereignty claims in the South China Sea in a week, an international tribunal in The Hague has ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear claims against China’s bid to assert control over one of the world’s busiest waterways.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration concluded it has jurisdiction to proceed with a complaints brought by the Philippines, despite China’s refusal to accept the proceedings. The tribunal is now expected to examine the Philippines’ submissions including one into the validity of China’s claim to more than 80 percent of the South China Sea, based on a nine-dash line drawn on a 1947 map for which it gives no precise coordinates. Four others, including Vietnam, have claims on features in the sea.