The Philippine government is already looking forward to round two of the proceedings in the arbitration case against China, which is the presentation of merits against Chinese incursion in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, the Philippines’ agent in the proceedings said tentative schedule for the presentation of merits is Nov. 24-30.
“The elimination of preliminary objections to the exercise of the tribunal’s jurisdiction opens the way for the presentation of the merits of the Philippines’ substantive claims,” Hilbay said in a text message.
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The Philippines took China to the arbitral tribunal in January 2013 as it challenged the legality of the latter’s nine-dash line claim over nearly the entire South China Sea, including areas included in the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
China’s sweeping claims over the South China and its aggressive stance, including the reclamation activities in Kagitingan, Zamora and Panganiban Reefs as well as the building of artificial islets over Mabini, Burgos, Calderon and Kennar Reefs has rattled the nerves of other claimant countries, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam.
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Recently, the Tribunal unanimously rejected China’s stand that the dispute is about sovereignty and therefore beyond its jurisdiction.
The Tribunal said based on the Philippines’ submission, the case involves interpretation and application of the Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“The decision represents a significant step forward in the Philippines’ quest for a peaceful, impartial resolution of the disputes between the parties and the clarification of their rights under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” Hilbay said.
After presentation on the merits, the court is expected to rule on the merits in the first quarter of 2016. CDG