Philippines: International Court of Arbitration may rule on lawsuit filed against China in 2016

Philippine Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario said on October 30 that the Arbitration Tribunal in the Netherlands could issue a ruling on the Philippines' lawsuit against China's claims of sovereignty over most of the South China Sea by early 2016.

Philippine Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario.

Manila's case, which was submitted to the United Nations Arbitration Court in The Hague in January 2013, aimed to invalidate China's absurd claim to the nine-dash line, also known as the "cow tongue line," encompassing 90% of the South China Sea, including waters within Philippine territory.

"We expect the arbitration to take place in the first quarter of 2016," Del Rosario said in an interview with the Philippine news agency ANC today.

The Philippines' decision to seek arbitration from an international court demonstrates its determination to protect its territorial claims in the South China Sea. A ruling on the case, according to Del Rosario, would clarify the Philippines' maritime rights and ultimately pave the way for a resolution to the disputes.

In March of this year, the Philippine government submitted a 4,000-page legal document, which included textual evidence and maps, to protest China's unreasonable claims in the South China Sea.

China has repeatedly stated that it will not participate in the lawsuit and insisted on only engaging in direct negotiations with the Philippines, but the court still gave Beijing a deadline of December 15, 2014, to submit its counter-arguments.

Beijing's failure to comply with the court order is expected to expedite the Philippines' lawsuit, Del Rosario said, adding that the legal process would proceed with or without China's participation.

"If China does not submit its counter-arguments to the court, on December 16, the international arbitration tribunal will send questions to us. We expect to answer these questions in March next year, and then in July, there will be two weeks of hearings," the Philippine Foreign Minister explained.

The arbitration tribunal will then issue its final ruling in the next few months or in the first quarter of 2016, according to Mr. Del Rosario.

Tensions in the South China Sea, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, have escalated amid China's increasing assertiveness through its military buildup and presence, and its involvement in illegal reclamation activities in disputed areas.

China's actions have caused concern among countries such as the United States, Japan, Australia, and the European Union.

Despite calls from the international community to end the ongoing reclamation activities, Beijing defiantly maintains its "indisputable" sovereignty in the South China Sea.

But legal experts say that China's historical basis for its extensive maritime claims is inconsistent with modern international law.

The Philippine Foreign Minister said that China must demonstrate to the world that it respects the rule of law in order to be recognized by the international community as a responsible nation.

According to Dan Tri