China rejects international tribunal ruling against its claims in South China Sea

As if China's going to listen...

When you read the ruling, both China's EEZ claims and Japan's Okinotorishima EEZ claim have been rejected by the tribunal. Prior to the ruling, there was a far fetched interpretation of the term 'economic life' in Art 121 of UNCLOS that it might include the extraction of resources from the EEZ and then using the money from those resources to import water, food and other things needed to sustain human habitation and economic life. However, the tribunal has rejected this interpretation.

At paragraph [499]

The term “life” suggests that the mere presence of resources will be insufficient and that some level of local human activity to exploit, develop, and distribute those resources would be required.

At paragraph [500]

The “of their own” component is essential to the interpretation because it makes clear that a feature itself (or group of related features) must have the ability to support an independent economic life, without relying predominantly on the infusion of outside resources or serving purely as an object for extractive activities, without the involvement of a local population.

At paragraph [502]

In the Tribunal’s view, economic activity derived from a possible exclusive economic zone or continental shelf must necessarily be excluded.

At paragraph [503]

A different calculus applies with respect to the territorial sea.......

Accordingly, economic activity in the territorial sea could form part of the economic life of a feature, provided that it is somehow linked to the feature itself, whether through a local population or otherwise. Distant fisherman exploiting the territorial sea surrounding a small rock and making no use of the feature itself, however, would not suffice to give the feature an economic life of its own.

What's Tagalog for "bugger off China!"?

I doubt the Chinese will take any notice of the ruling, no doubt claiming Western bias, or US lackeys or whatever reasons occupy the Beijing rulers' combined heads.

No big surprise here. Was assumed that claims by China was questionable by many in Asia & the US ( even though Obama administration hasn't been that vocal). Now corroborated by intl tribunal. Using the parlance of chess, next move is Beijing's.

Of COURSE they did, they didn't get what they WANTED, so now, they will simply contine as they HAVE been...until some country puts them in their PLACE.

As if China's going to listen...

They made it clear long ago that they don't recognize the tribunal's right to judge the case.

According to Wikipedia, only 9 countries (in addition to the Philippines) support the arbitration while 58 are either against it or prefer bilateral talks. I'm not sure what that means, if anything.

I doubt the Chinese will take any notice of the ruling, no doubt claiming Western bias, or US lackeys or whatever reasons occupy the Beijing rulers' combined heads.

Of course not. Then, again, they should have make it smarter or look better by at least uses non_Japanese Judge. Since Japan also has dispute with China, so there will be conflict of interest.

On the other way around, even if the ruling is for China, I doubt Philippines would abide with the rules also.

There is no 'bias' or even a conflict of interest in such a clear cut case. The treaty is very clear as is the violation. After all, why do you think China did not participate? Because even they know/understand that they are in the wrong (it is that obvious) but they are playing the long game. Eventually, I expect they will be shuffled along back to 'their' shores.

China or Russia is always in the tight. I would not mess with them. Times have changed. While Japanese still hate foreigners the world has moved on.

As I said, Only China's government wants to believe that the world believes what they believe... Even if the global community has said, "Are you guys stupid?"

@albaleo

According to Wikipedia, only 9 countries (in addition to the Philippines) support the arbitration while 58 are either against it or prefer bilateral talks. I'm not sure what that means, if anything.

This is actually untrue. It's a classic case of how Wikipedia can be unreliable. The Philippines v China page has been taken over by one overzealous pro-Chinese user who has made almost every edit. When you follow the sources, he classifies any country which says something like 'we hope the issue can be resolved peacefully' as support for China's demands for bilateral talks rather than arbitration. It's simply not the case.

^ all countries or cults in this world want others to believe the same values as their's.

China is intent on remaining deaf and blind to international opinion and law and losing respect, earning scorn for its stance, indifference to rulings of a body they think they are part of. How far has this nation, meaning its politics, sunk. One thing is sure, the tribunal has ruled and shown China for what it is: a country that has earned a reputation for getting what it wants by any means and a set of rules that only that country has set out for itself, ignoring any legal basis. China thinks it is still enjoying the fruit of all it has pillaged but here the clock is ticking. Aggression in whatever form, and I can't see the leaders are that stupid they don't understand that, will come to a head and cause more damage than adopting a conciliatory tone that benefits all. A real great country would be capable of that.

China won't like being rebuked by a large part of the international community but it is absolutely deserved. They've acted like they have no neighbors at all and couldn't give a sh*t about their neighbors, they've destroyed pristine coral reefs, they've lied about the purpose of the development (oh, is that a runway on that man-made island I see?), and they're always trying to up the ante. The international community needs to continue to come together on this issue as it really is a big one.

@M3M3M3

Thanks. I should learn more about about how to follow the editing on Wikipedia.

These judges are a dime a dozen. If they do proper job, they will go to the South China Sea and make Discovery Process to find out the root cause of the problem there Obviously they never heard of Tomas Cloma, the Pinoy who schemed with nationalists PInoys lke Carlos Garcia, PH Senator, VP, President to steal Thitu island and others. Don't just look at China. Look at the Whole Picture!

It seems that China would not obey the ruling whatever as it has already invaded the whole South China Sea. What they/we can do is economic sanction, that is, Not buy things from China and not sell things to China.

China cares about its world image as Margaret Thatcher revealed when challenged over negotiations regarding Hong Kong.

What they/we can do is economic sanction, that is, Not buy things from China and not sell things to China.

Good luck, especially the latter part.

So now China is ignoring international law in the UNCLOS treaty they themselves signed! What an astonishingly disappointing country. China is like the anti-social loner at a party

These judges who were given a very big Malvinas/Falkland, War and Peace responsibility can't even accurately judge whether Taiping island is an island or akin to Okinitorishima atoll!

How can we trust them to judge such a complex dispute with sovereignty , historical and legal issues?

Their calling Taiping island a rock exposed their lack of understanding of the issue and therefore disqualifies them to make a verdict of an issue they don't know of in the first place.

Their judgement is therefore null and void!