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The Philippines arbitration case against China over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) is moving slowly but surely amid their massive reclamation and construction of military structures in the disputed region.
The Arbitral Tribunal in charge of the case has decided to set a hearing sometime in July to take up issues of jurisdiction and admissibility of the Philippines’ case.
The Tribunal, which conducts hearings in the intergovernmental Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands, will also discuss China’s objection to the proceedings.
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Philippines took China to court back in January 2013 challenging the legality of the “nine-dash line” claim of China over nearly the entire South China Sea including parts of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
China asserts it has “undisputed sovereignty” over the region believed to be rich in natural and oil resources and has refused to participate in arbitration despite several requests from the PCA for comments.
“After receiving any comments that China may make by 16 June 2015 with respect to the Philippines’ Supplemental Written Submission, the Arbitral Tribunal may also pose further questions to the Parties to be addressed in the course of the July hearing,” the Tribunal said in their statement.
“If, after the July hearing, the Tribunal determines that there are jurisdictional objections that do not possess an exclusively preliminary character, then, in accordance with Article 20(3) of the Rules of Procedure, such pleas will be reserved for consideration and decision at a later stage of the proceedings,” it said.
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The Tribunal made it clear that the proceedings and a verdict will be rendered even without China’s participation as long as it is satisfied that it has jurisdiction and that “the claim is well founded in fact and law.”
The Philippines has so far made two written submissions to the PCA since arbitration began.
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