Hague to rule in July on South China Sea dispute

Hague to rule in July on South China Sea dispute

Permanent Court of Arbitration to deliver ruling July 12 on Philippines' case against China over Beijing's territorial claims

By Yasin Yagci

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AA) - An international court has announced it will deliver a highly anticipated ruling early next month in the Philippines' case against China over ownership of parts of the South China Sea.

The Philippines is contesting Beijing's historical claim to about 90 percent of the Sea -- one of the world's busiest shipping lanes -- and has gone to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague asking them to rule on the matter.

In an official statement Wednesday, the PCA said that the tribunal had agreed on a decision.

“The Tribunal will issue its Award on Tuesday, 12 July 2016 at approximately 11 a.m., CEST [0900GMT], The Hague,” it said.

“In its Final Award, the Tribunal will address those issues of jurisdiction reserved for further consideration in its Award on Jurisdiction and Admissibility and will address the merits of those of the Philippines’ claims that fall within its jurisdiction.”

China claims almost all of the South China Sea including a cluster of islands, reefs and atolls further south called the Spratlys.

Other claimants are Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. Parts of the South China Sea that the Philippines' claims fall under its exclusive economic zone and have been named the West Philippine Sea by the Philippine government.

All claimants -- bar Brunei -- have stationed military troops in their territories in the vast area, said to be sitting atop huge oil and gas deposits.

Territorial claims are normally the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), but the ICJ only entertains cases if all parties in the dispute participate.

China has refused to do so.

*Anadolu Agency correspondent Hatice Kesgin contributed to this report from Ankara.

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