Is China's nine dash line legal on WPS

The “Nine-Dash Line” (NDL) is a territorial claim by China in the South China Sea (SCS), which includes the West Philippine Sea (WPS). However, the legality of this claim is disputed.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in a case against China, stating that the NDL has no basis in international law. The court concluded that China’s claims to historic rights and maritime zones within the NDL are invalid.

The PCA’s ruling was based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which both China and the Philippines have ratified. UNCLOS establishes the rights and responsibilities of nations in their use of the world’s oceans.

Despite the PCA’s ruling, China has not recognized the decision and continues to assert its claims in the SCS, including the WPS. The situation remains a point of contention between China and the Philippines, as well as other countries in the region.

Would you like more information on the South China Sea dispute or the PCA’s ruling?

South China Sea Dispute or PCA’s ruling
The South China Sea dispute is a complex and contentious issue involving several countries, including the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. The dispute centers on the territorial claims and maritime rights of these countries in the South China Sea, which is a vital shipping lane and rich in natural resources.

Background
– The dispute has its roots in the post-World War II era, when several countries began to assert their claims over various islands and features in the South China Sea.
– In the 1970s and 1980s, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines began to occupy and fortify various islands and reefs in the area.
– In 2009, China submitted a map to the United Nations, showing its claim to a vast area of the South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands, the Paracel Islands, and the Scarborough Shoal.

PCA Ruling
– In 2013, the Philippines filed a case against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands, challenging China’s claims in the South China Sea.
– On July 12, 2016, the PCA issued a landmark ruling, which found that China’s claims to historic rights and maritime entitlements in the South China Sea were without legal basis.
– The PCA also ruled that several features in the Spratly Islands, including Mischief Reef, Subi Reef, and Fiery Cross Reef, were not entitled to a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or continental shelf.
– Furthermore, the PCA found that China had engaged in unlawful activities, including the construction of artificial islands, the destruction of coral reefs, and the harassment of Philippine fishing vessels.

Aftermath
– China rejected the PCA’s ruling, stating that it was “null and void” and that China would not accept or recognize it.
– The Philippines, under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, has taken a more conciliatory approach towards China, seeking to improve economic ties and downplaying the dispute.
– Other countries, including the United States, Japan, and Australia, have expressed support for the PCA’s ruling and called for China to respect international law.

Current Situation
– The South China Sea dispute remains a contentious issue, with tensions between China and its neighbors continuing to simmer.
– China has continued to militarize its artificial islands in the South China Sea, including the deployment of anti-ship missiles and fighter jets.
– The United States has conducted freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) in the South China Sea, challenging China’s claims and asserting the right of all countries to navigate through the area.

References
– Permanent Court of Arbitration. (2016). Award in the Matter of the South China Sea Arbitration.
– BBC News. (2016). South China Sea: Tribunal backs Philippines.
– The New York Times. (2020). China’s Sea Claims Rejected by International Tribunal.