An International Tribunal Rejected South China Sea Claims

A case was filed by the Philippines in an international tribunal, which has ruled against Chinese claims to rights in the South China Sea.

The tribunal in The Hague said China had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights. It also said China had caused “severe harm to the coral reef environment” by building artificial islands.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration said there was no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or resources.

China was disappointed and called the ruling “ill-founded” and says it will not be bound by it.