Manila – A United Nations (UN)-backed tribunal delivered a verdict on a Philippine challenge to China’s claims to most of the South China Sea. Spanning three years, two hearings, and nearly 4,000 pages of evidence, the arbitration case at The Hague is complex. In essence, China claims most of the sea, even waters approaching neighboring countries, based on a vaguely defined “nine-dash” Chinese map dating back to the 1940s. The Philippines disputes this. Here are the key facts on the case: The tribunal and its powers The tribunal was set up by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, an intergovernmental organization established in 1899. The PCA has 121 member states, including the Philippines and China. It is allowed to arbitrate on certain matters of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The five-member tribunal hearing this case is composed of top maritime affairs [...]
